Jobs › Advocate Health

Clinical Documentation Spec-RN

Advocate Health · Park Ridge, IL · $38.20–$57.30 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.

About your past

This role focuses on pediatric patients. What pediatric acute care experience do you have?

What they are checking: Whether they have the NICU, PICU or specialty pediatric background the posting requires.

Tell me about a time you used strong clinical judgment to spot something others missed.

What they are checking: Whether they bring the strong clinical skills the posting calls necessary.

How do you keep up with changes in coding and documentation rules?

What they are checking: Whether they stay current in a field that changes every year.

What would you do

A pediatric surgeon pushes back on your query. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain the clinical reasoning respectfully and stay compliant.

The role requires in-person work with physicians. How do you build relationships with doctors who see CDI as extra work?

What they are checking: Whether they can show physicians the value of CDI and earn their cooperation.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd review the chart of a premature infant in the NICU for documentation gaps.

What they are checking: Whether they know common NICU diagnoses and what clinical evidence should support them.

How do you decide what the principal diagnosis should be for a child admitted with several problems?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how to pick the principal diagnosis that reflects the reason for admission.

How do you write a query that's clear and not leading?

What they are checking: Whether they know query compliance rules that protect the hospital from fraud concerns.

How does good documentation affect children's hospital quality rankings and patient care?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the link between documentation, severity scores and reported outcomes.

How do you do a follow-up review to make sure a physician actually documented what was agreed?

What they are checking: Whether they close the loop on queries instead of assuming they were answered.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 11207 ACH Enterprise - Compliance Document Management Program Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Candidate must have hospital nursing experience in pediatric patient population. Prefer NICU, PICU or Specialty PEDS experience. Minimum 5 years nursing experience with BSN. Will not accept applicants with only obstetrics, only clinic nursing or only psychiatric nursing background. Strong clinical skills are necessary to be successful in this role. Position will require in-person work with physicians and other allied health professionals. Hybrid work requirement required. Not a remote role. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Major Responsibilities: Improves the overall quality and completeness of clinical documentation by performing chart reviews using clinical documentation guidelines based on accepted standards, evidenced based practice, and current regulatory requirements. 4)Communicates with appropriate healthcare team members to ensure accurate and complete documentation is in the medical record 5)Conducts follow-up reviews of clinical documentation to ensure points of clarification and agreed upon documentation have been recorded in the patient’s chart. 6)Identifies the most appropriate principal diagnosis and complications including date to accurately reflect clinical acuity and risk of mortality in compliance with government regulations 7)Reviews clinical issues with coding staff to assign a working DRG, follows up with physicians if appropriate. 2)Provide daily clinical evaluation of the medical record including physician and clinical documentation, lab results, diagnostic information and treatment plan 3)Confers with physicians, face to face or via clinical documentation inquiry forms, regarding missing, unclear or conflicting medical record documentation to clarify the information, obtain needed documentation, present opportunities, and educate for appropriate identification of severity of illness 1)Responsible for the day-to-day evaluation of documentation by the Medical Staff and healthcare team in accordance with the hospital’s designated clinical documentation policies and procedures 8)Gather and analyze information pertinent to documentation findings and outcomes Educates all internal customers on clinical documentation opportunities, coding and reimbursement issues, as well as performance improvement strategies. 1)Demonstrates knowledge of DRG payer issues, documentation opportunities, clinical documentation requirements, coding and policies and procedures. 2)Develops educational strategies for physicians and other members of the healthcare team regarding identified documentation opportunities to help support clinical acuity and risk of mortality within the medical record and to understand the significance of appropriate documentation 3)Coordinates education to all internal customers related to compliance, coding, and clinical documentation issues. Acts as a consultant to coders when additional information or documentation is needed to assign the correct DRG 4)Acts as a consultant to coders when additional information or documentation is needed to assign the correct DRG 5)Participates in continuous performance improvement and completes all required educational programs for hospital and medical staff 6)Maintains knowledge of current standards of care via literature review and participation in educational offerings 7)Research literature to identify new methods development and overall documentation enhancement 8)Complete required contact hours based on FTE status, within time frame Maintains the integrity of data bases, tracks and trends response to clinical documentation and measures for performance improvement. 5)Assist site CDI leader in the development and reporting of performance measures to the medical staff and other departments and prepare physician specific data information, as appropriate. 1)Completes documentation on reviewed cases in the database. 2)Completes the DRG and query indicators for each reviewed case, as appropriate. 3)Promotes patient safety by reporting of issues through established channels and participating as requested in safety initiatives. 4)Identify patterns, trends variances and opportunities to improve documentation review and process Demonstrate positive and effective interpersonal relations dealing with all members of the team (ie co-workers, physicians, leadership, etc.). 1)Maintains a positive attitude about assignments and team members 2)Promotes professional/personal growth of co-workers by sharing knowledge and resources. 3)Manages stress and personal feelings without a negative impact on the team 4)Communicates in a positive and productive manner. 5)Demonstrates flexibility with changing workload/assignments. Licensure: Nurse, Registered (RN) Education/Experience Required: Graduate from an accredited school of nursing BSN 5 years relevant clinical experience (For associates in process level 25013, 5 years relevant pediatric clinical experience) Clinical documentation improvement experience preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: Ability to prioritize work Excellent communication skills Good problem solving skills Critical thinking skills Basic Computer skills Effective problem-solver with good interpersonal communication skills, verbal and written Effective observation, analytical, and critical thinking skills Current nursing license in the State of Illinois. Certification in clinical documentation improvement preferred. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Ability to work in changing environment Ability to prioritize independently and respond to multiple simultaneous requests Ability to work under stressful conditions and in difficult situations May be exposed to hazardous materials and life threatening diseases This position needs to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated. Extensive knowledge and experience of ICD-10 coding classification system and DRGs none 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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