New Graduate Registered Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care Unit
Posted Sep 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
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 or clinical work 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 in a monitored, high-acuity population before it becomes an emergency
Describe a time you had to speak up to a more experienced nurse or a physician because something didn't seem right.
willingness to advocate for patient safety despite a steep hierarchy or lack of experience
Tell me about a time you gave or received a handoff report that didn't go smoothly. What happened and what would you do differently?
communication discipline during shift-to-shift transitions, which matter a lot on a 12-hour flex schedule unit
How do you plan to use your orientation period and preceptor relationship to build competence, especially since you'll be locked into a 0.9 FTE for your first year?
self-awareness about the new-grad learning curve and realistic expectations about the commitment
Tell me about a time you had to manage your own stress or emotions during or right after a difficult patient outcome.
emotional resilience needed for a unit with cardiac and surgical patients who can decompensate
Technical
What do you know about caring for a patient after a lobe resection or esophagectomy, and what would make you concerned in the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery?
baseline clinical knowledge of thoracic surgery recovery specific to this unit's patient population
Tell me about a cardiac drip or insulin drip you've managed or observed being managed. What do you watch for and what would make you call the provider?
comfort and safety awareness around titratable IV medications common on this unit
What does a stroke patient's neuro check tell you, and what changes would make you concerned enough to call a rapid response or stroke alert?
foundational knowledge of neuro assessment given the unit takes stroke and increased-monitoring patients
What's your understanding of ACLS, and how are you planning to be ready to get certified within six months of hire?
whether the candidate understands the certification requirement and has a concrete plan, not just intent
Situational
Walk me through how you'd prioritize your patients if you had four post-op CTS patients, one of whom just came back from an esophagectomy and another who's on a cardiac drip that needs titrating.
ability to triage acuity and manage competing demands on a progressive care assignment
Say a patient becomes confused and starts trying to pull out lines. Walk me through what you'd do, step by step.
judgment around de-escalation, safety interventions, and when to escalate versus use restraints
If you're assigned a patient who's clearly overflow from a higher-acuity unit and you feel out of your depth, what do you do?
honesty about limitations and knowing when and how to ask for help without freezing
This unit works a rotating schedule with every fourth weekend and holiday rotations. How do you think about that kind of schedule for your life outside work?
realistic buy-in to the shift pattern and holiday commitments rather than a rehearsed answer
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As published by Advocate Health.
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