JobsAdvocate Health

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - PACU FT40 Days

Advocate Health · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you noticed something wasn't right with a patient and had to speak up to a nurse.

whether the candidate reports concerns promptly instead of waiting or assuming someone else will notice

Tell me about a time you had to reposition or ambulate a patient who was in pain or resistant. How did you handle it?

patience, communication skills, and ability to balance patient comfort with necessary care tasks

Tell me about a day where you had several patients or tasks competing for your attention at once. How did you decide what came first?

prioritization skills in a fast-turnover PACU environment with rotating admissions and discharges

Technical

How do you take and record vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respirations, and what would make you recheck a reading before charting it?

basic clinical competency and judgment about when a number looks wrong rather than blindly documenting it

Describe your experience documenting in an electronic medical record. Which systems have you used, and what do you do if you're not sure how to chart something?

comfort with EMR systems and honesty about asking for help instead of guessing

You're helping transfer a patient who weighs about 150 pounds and needs a sliding transfer. Tell me how you'd set that up safely.

knowledge of proper body mechanics, use of a second person, and injury prevention for both patient and staff

How do you approach collecting a specimen, like urine or sputum, and making sure it's labeled correctly?

attention to detail and understanding of patient identification protocols that prevent lab errors

What's your understanding of hand hygiene and isolation precautions, and can you describe a time you had to follow them carefully?

basic infection control knowledge, which matters heavily in a post-surgical unit with vulnerable patients

What does your CNA certification and state registry status look like right now, and are you comfortable getting BLS certified within your first 45 days here?

confirming licensure is current and the candidate can meet the required certification timeline

Situational

Walk me through how you would monitor a patient right after surgery in PACU, before the nurse gets over to that bedside.

whether the candidate understands post-anesthesia risk (airway, vitals, level of consciousness) and knows the line between observing and acting without an RN order

A patient's family member is anxious and keeps pressing the call light asking questions you can't answer. What do you do?

customer service instincts and knowing when to escalate rather than overstep scope

If you saw a coworker skip a step, like not using a gait belt or forgetting to raise a bed rail, what would you do?

willingness to hold safety standards even when it means an uncomfortable conversation with a peer

How would you explain a task to a very young patient versus an elderly patient who's confused after anesthesia?

ability to adjust communication and care approach to different ages and cognitive states, as the posting calls out age-specific competency

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37710 Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center - PACU Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday, 4 x 10 hour shifts per week with rotating start times between 9:00AM and 11:00AM. Pay Range: $20.80 - $31.20 Major Responsibilities: • Assists RN with daily care of patients including bathing, oral hygiene, feeding, activity orders and ambulation which may include use of therapeutic assistive devices, proper positioning, range of motion and special transferring as indicated. Measures and documents blood pressures, TPRs (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration), I & O (Intake and Output), daily weights, and other patient data as requested. Documents accurately in Electronic Medical Record (EMR). • Participates in admission, transfer and discharge process under supervision of RN including room set up, orientation to room, removing linen, and proper management of patient belongings. Ensures patient call light is always in reach of patient and answers call-lights promptly. • Performs purposeful rounding under direction of RN and promptly communicates observations, concerns, and needs of patient/family to RN. Documents appropriately. Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties which require lifting and pushing/pulling while utilizing proper technique and assistive devices. • Performs tasks related to nutritional needs of the patient under direction of RN to include diet review, tray set up/removal, proper positioning and diet selection. Performs tasks related to maintaining skin integrity to include proper repositioning and skin care. Ensures special patient supplies and appliances are provided and maintained such as TED hose and sequential compression devices. • Collects urine, stool, and sputum specimens and performs point-of-care testing as indicated using approved process for accurate specimen labeling and identification. Maintains competency as required. Under direction of RN and as determined by site/unit requirements, may be required to remove IVs, provide post mortem care and perform bladder scans. • Practices within policies and procedures of infection prevention by demonstrating hand hygiene and knowledge of sterile and aseptic procedures, proper disposal of contaminated materials and utilizing proper attire when in direct contact with patients in isolation. • Coordinates tests and treatments with and between various departments for patients on nursing units. Maintains a working knowledge of functions and services offered by all diagnostic and treatment departments to facilitate the scheduling of tests and treatments. Maintains working knowledge of EHR system and other computer systems for ordering patient and unit supplies and equipment. Processes daily patient charges and/or related procedures through the system. • Facilitates communications required to support patient care, including the multiple-line telephone, unit/site paging and the hospital information system. Screens incoming telephone calls. Monitors department office equipment and troubleshoots minor problems. Arranges repair of major malfunctions. • Compiles necessary chart forms for admissions, transfers, discharges and expirations. Obtains appropriate copies of medical records for transfers to nursing homes and other health care facilities. Verifies medical records contain complete and accurate patient demographic information, patient identification and registration in the medical record, including appropriate level of care. • Establishes and maintains positive customer relations and contributes to a harmonious work environment. Quickly and courteously acknowledges requests, responds to call lights, demonstrates proper phone etiquette and fosters communication between the health care team. • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 45 days, and • Nurse Aide in good standing as indicated with the State Registry in which the team member practices. Education Required: • Certificate of General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), or • High School Graduate. Experience Required: • None. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Basic computer skills. • Excellent oral and written communications. • Excellent organizational skills and ability to set priorities. • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt to interruptions and changing priorities/workloads. • High level of attention to detail essential. • Certification Addendum • Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others). Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist, and reach above shoulders during the work shift. • Must be able to: • lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Will be required to use foot pedals on carts or machines. • Must have functional vision and hearing. • Will be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids on a continuous basis; therefore, protective clothing must be worn as necessary. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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