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Float Nurse Critical Care .9 nights

Children's Wisconsin · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted May 27, 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

Tell me about a time you took care of a patient who was getting worse fast. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize decline early and escalate with clear communication.

This is a .9 night position with 12-hour shifts. How do you stay sharp overnight?

What they are checking: Whether they have real strategies to handle night shift fatigue in critical care.

The posting describes CRU nurses as collaborative and curious. Tell me about a time you learned something new from another unit.

What they are checking: Whether they enjoy learning and bring good practices across units.

What would you do

As a Critical Care CRU nurse, you will float to the NICU, PICU, CVICU and EDTC. How do you get ready to take an assignment on a unit you have not worked on in weeks?

What they are checking: Whether they have a plan to orient quickly and ask for help so care stays safe.

You float to a unit and the charge nurse gives you an assignment that feels beyond your skills. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they speak up honestly about competence to protect patient safety.

How do you support a family whose child is critically ill when you are new to them for that shift?

What they are checking: Whether they can build trust quickly and communicate clearly with stressed families.

What would you do if you arrived to the EDTC and a trauma was coming in within minutes?

What they are checking: Whether they know their role in a trauma team and can step in calmly.

About the work

Walk me through how you would assess and manage a post-op cardiac surgery patient in the CVICU.

What they are checking: Whether they understand key risks after heart surgery, like bleeding, low cardiac output and arrhythmias.

What differences do you watch for when caring for a premature infant compared to a critically ill teenager?

What they are checking: Whether they can adjust assessment, dosing and equipment across the full pediatric range.

How do you manage vasoactive drips and titrate them safely?

What they are checking: Whether they have strong ICU medication skills, which are essential across all four units.

How many years of ICU experience do you have, and what kind of patients did you care for?

What they are checking: Whether they meet the one year ICU requirement and how close their background is to pediatrics.

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The full job description

As published by Children's Wisconsin.

At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe kids deserve the best. Children’s Wisconsin is a nationally recognized health system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. We provide primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. Our reputation draws patients and families from around the country. We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and are seeking individuals dedicated to helping us achieve our vision of the healthiest kids in the country. If you want to work for an organization that makes a difference for children and families, and encourages you to be at your best every day, please apply today. Please follow this link for a closer look at what it’s like to work at Children’s Wisconsin: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatcw/ The Clinical Resource Unit (CRU) serves as the internal float pool and is composed of direct care staff who provide support across inpatient units. Nurses hired for Critical Care CRU, will float to the NICU, PICU, CVICU and the Emergency Department Trauma Center (EDTC). We are seeking candidates with at least 1 year ICU RN experience ; pediatric experience preferred. CRU nurses take initiative and are collaborative and curious. This is a full time 12 hour night shift with every 3rd weekend rotation and a holiday rotation. CRU nurses earn a $4 per hour float differential AND eligible for additional $4 per hour night shift bonus pay AFTER successfully completing orientation. Orientation is full time for several months and could be on any shift based on preceptor assignments. We are targeting start date of August or September 2026 Job Summary Performs as a partner in the health care management team. Provides coordination and management of patient care to pediatric patients and families within a continuum of care. Delegates patient care activities as appropriate within a care management assignment. Functions within the care management model, CHW scope and standards of pediatric clinical nursing practice, Wisconsin statutes for scope of practice for registered nurses, CHW Code of Ethics and hospital policies and procedures. Is oriented and regularly works in multiple patient care areas with diverse patient populations, staff and physicians. Floats primarily among the inpatient units; Floats to other areas as requested within scope of verified competencies. Essential Functions - Nursing Process: applies principles of growth and development in obtaining assessment data; communicates in manner most appropriate for child and family; identifies and acts upon overt and covert cues of physical, psychosocial and cognitive parameters for an individual; makes independent nursing decisions and integrates medical plan of care. Performs point of care testing and blood collections according to established policies. Understands and satisfies the needs of the neonatal, infant, toddler, pre-school, school-age, adolescent and/or adult patient in regards to their growth and development process. - Care Management: collaborates with physicians and others to implement care management plans; delegates patient care activities within a care management assignment; assesses progress of patient toward established nursing outcomes; records variances; communicates with care team when outcomes are not met. - Discharge Planning: assesses needs of patient/family for discharge; individualizes plans for discharge; identifies and coordinates necessary and available resources to accomplish timely discharge; accountable for completion of discharge teaching. - Teaching: understands/applies basic learning principles to both children and adults; is aware of available resources; familiar with content in teaching plans; executes teaching plan; utilizes available resources, both written and consultant; evaluates effectiveness of own teaching; is accountable for the completion of teaching. - Consultation/Collaboration: effectively communicates to care givers and physicians each patient's need for nursing care and progress relative to established nursing outcomes; coordinates care in conjunction with other disciplines; acts as a resource/advocate to others for specific patients/families. Communicates effectively with poise and tact, establishing effective and efficient working relationships with health care professionals and patients/families, within a wide variety of health care settings as assigned. - Professional Development: identifies annual goals for own professional growth and the means by which to achieve them; aware of and works toward the accomplishment of unit/area and division of nursing goals; participates in personal and unit improvement activities including continuing education and quality assurance. - Applies current research findings in practice; participates in data collection. - Supports community education efforts. Education: - Associate's Degree in Nursing required or - Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required Experience: - 2+ years experience as a Registered Nurse required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Knowledge of the principles of neonatal, pediatric and adolescent growth and development and child/family responses to fear, illness, injury and hospitalization. - Analytical skills that are necessary to assess complex patient conditions effectively and to develop comprehensive plans of care. Synthesizes multiple sources of information to assist in the resolution of human responses to complex problems. - Interpersonal and communication skills sufficient to interact effectively with interdisciplinary health team members and consumers. Ability to delegate patient care activities effectively to unlicensed staff as appropriate and where indicated. - The ability to represent the organization and serve consumers in a professional manner and promote a positive image of the organization and its services. - Mental and sensory abilities to read process and interpret clinical data. - Ability to rotate shifts and/or works flexible hours to meet patient care needs. Licenses and Certifications: - BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council required - License RN-Registered Nurse (30) - State of Wisconsin required - PALS-Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council within 90 Days required Patient Care Responsibility - Provides care appropriate to patient population and as described in applicable policies and procedures. Required for All Jobs: - This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job. - Employment is at-will. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. Children's Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law. Certifications/Licenses: BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council, License RN-Registered Nurse (30) - State of Wisconsin, PALS-Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council

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