JobsAdvocate Health

New Grad Registered Nurse (RN - Post Surgical

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 17, 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 in clinical rotations when a patient's condition started to change quickly. What did you notice first and what did you do?

whether the candidate can recognize early signs of deterioration and act rather than freeze, even with limited real-world experience

Tell me about a time you had to give or receive tough feedback from a preceptor or instructor. How did you handle it?

coachability, since new grads will be heavily precepted and need to absorb correction without becoming defensive

Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team under pressure, whether in nursing school or another job. What was your role?

team orientation, since this unit relies heavily on charge RNs, sister units, and shared governance

This unit has shared governance where nurses and nursing assistants help run daily operations. What does having a voice in how a unit runs mean to you?

fit with the unit's collaborative culture and whether the candidate wants to be involved beyond just clinical tasks

Describe a moment when you made a mistake or almost made one during a clinical rotation. What did you do afterward?

honesty and commitment to patient safety culture, including whether they report and learn from errors

Technical

What do you watch for in the first 24 hours after a patient returns from surgery, say a bowel resection or a hysterectomy?

foundational knowledge of post-surgical assessment across the GI, urology, and gyn populations this unit sees

What's your understanding of telemetry monitoring, and what rhythm changes would make you call the provider right away?

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What do you know about caring for drains, ostomies, or wound vacs, and how comfortable are you with hands-on skills like that right now?

honest self-assessment of technical skill level appropriate for a new grad entering a surgical unit

Situational

Walk me through how you would prioritize your first hour of a night shift if you're handed four post-op patients, one just back from PACU and one on telemetry with new chest pain complaints.

basic triage and prioritization skills for a high-acuity surgical stepdown assignment

It's 2 a.m., you're worried about a patient but you're not sure it rises to a rapid response yet. Who do you go to and what do you say?

understanding of the night shift support structure (charge RN, clinical resource nurse, house supervisor) and willingness to escalate early

A patient on your unit is confused after surgery and starts pulling at their IV and trying to get out of bed. What do you do before you consider restraints?

judgment around least-restrictive interventions and de-escalation before resorting to restraints

How do you manage a patient's pain after surgery when they say the medication isn't touching it, but you've already given the ordered dose?

clinical problem-solving and communication with the surgical team around pain management

How would you handle a family member who is upset about how long they've been waiting for updates on their loved one after surgery?

communication skills and composure under interpersonal pressure, tied to the unit's patient experience scores

Nights on this unit mean fewer people around than during the day. How do you feel about relying more on your own judgment while still knowing when to call for backup?

self-awareness about scope of practice and comfort with the autonomy and isolation of night shift as a new grad

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Schedule Details/Additional Information New Grads and Experienced RNs encouraged to apply! Scheduled Hours  NIGHTS 1900-0730 72 Hours per pay period  3-12 hours shifts per week Additional NOC Shift Resources Include: • Charge RN • Sister Unit teammates • Clinical Resource Nurse 24/7 • House Supervisor • Stat Team • Off-shift Unit Supervisor • PCM with varied shifts including evenings/early mornings Student Loan Forgiveness Tuition Assistance RN Referral $500 for Advocate Aurora Teammates Military/Veteran Friendly Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Job Description Registered Nurse (RN) – Surgical 3CD   Milwaukee, WI  Be the Nurse Who Redefines Care. At Advocate Health, being a nurse means more than delivering exceptional clinical care—it means leading with purpose, compassion, and boldness. As part of our One Advocate Nurse community, you’ll join a unified team committed to lifting others up, embracing innovation, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. You’ll be empowered to think boldly, collaborate with humility, and drive change through fearless curiosity. Whether you're at the bedside, in the community, or advancing care through research and education, you’ll help shape the future of health—because here, we’re redefining care for you, for us, for all. Your feedback matters . Every nurse’s voice is vital in shaping our culture and improving care. We value your insights and experiences because they help us grow stronger together. Where You Will Work:   3CD is a 23 bed post-op surgical unit with 15 beds for Tele Patients. 75% of patients are admitted from PACU or as stepdown from Surgical ICU. This is a fast-paced, high acuity surgical unit specializing in Gastroenterology, Urology, Gynecology, and Plastic Surgery populations. This is a great unit for experienced Med-Surg nurses seeking to advance their skills and grow in their practice. It is also a great foundational unit for new graduate nurses who seek to eventually develop into more advanced clinical settings, such as ICU, ED, OR, and NP. We are a strong performing inpatient unit as measured by their Nurse Sensitive Indicators and Patient Experience scores. 3CD team members are committed to excellent clinical practice and patient outcomes. Shared Governance is an essential part of the culture on the unit, where nurses and nursing assistants have a strong voice in the daily operations. 3CD received top tier team member engagement scores in 2021. We’re Looking For:   • Completion of an accredited or approved program in nursing  • Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the teammate practices  • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association   What You’ll Do:   • As a skilled and compassionate RN, you will play a pivotal role in providing and coordinating comprehensive patient care through the nursing process to deliver safe, therapeutic care in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures.   • Using evidence-based practice, clinical decision making, compassion, and skills communication while leading efforts to create the safest patient environment and the best patient experience across the continuum.   About This Location:    The future of medicine is happening here at Aurora St. Luke’s, and you’re at the center. No matter what your need – common surgery or pioneering treatment – you can count on our experienced and specialty physicians to provide expert care and excellent outcomes. As the only hospital in Wisconsin with a 24/7 on-site heart-care team, you can expect to receive premiere cardiac services. Both the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have recognized Aurora St. Luke’s performance in treating cardiac and stroke patients. Physical Requirements & Working Conditions Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, twisting, and lifting throughout the workday. Must safely lift up to 35 pounds and perform patient handling tasks, including pushing/pulling up to 30 pounds and assisting with 150-pound sliding transfers. Requires functional speech, vision, hearing, touch, and fine motor skills for clinical procedures, as well as the ability to operate equipment foot controls. Must be able to respond quickly to changing patient conditions and perform patient safety interventions, including verbal de-escalation and restraints when necessary. Exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, and hazardous waste may occur; appropriate protective equipment must be used. Physical Abilities Testing and additional department-specific requirements may apply. 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. Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now! 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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