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Nurse Extern Cardiac Stepdown Unit

SSM Health · IL · Part time

Posted Aug 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

What made you interested in cardiac stepdown nursing?

What they are checking: Whether they have real interest in cardiac care that will keep them engaged as an extern.

You've finished fundamentals and your first clinical rotation. What skills do you feel strongest in, and which do you want to build?

What they are checking: Whether they can honestly judge their own skills and want to learn.

Tell me about a time you received critical feedback in clinicals. What did you do with it?

What they are checking: Whether they take feedback well, which is key to learning from a preceptor.

How do you help a patient who is anxious after a heart attack?

What they are checking: Whether they can offer comfort and simple reassurance to scared patients.

The externship leads toward the Graduate Nurse Residency. Where do you see yourself after graduation?

What they are checking: Whether they want to stay and grow with the hospital after they finish school.

What would you do

A patient on telemetry says they feel dizzy and their heart is racing. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stay with the patient and alert the nurse instead of trying to handle it alone.

Your preceptor asks you to do a skill you've never done. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they are honest about their experience and ask to be guided.

Externs commit to at least 24 hours over four weeks. How will you balance this with school?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage their time and stay reliable while studying.

How do you protect patient privacy when you're a student on the unit?

What they are checking: Whether they understand HIPAA applies to students the same as staff.

About the work

What vital sign changes in a cardiac patient would make you tell your preceptor right away?

What they are checking: Whether they know warning signs like chest pain, low blood pressure or a sudden heart rate change.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling IL-SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mount Vernon Worker Type: PRN Job Highlights: All candidates must be currently enrolled in an accredited school of nursing and have completed their fundamentals of nursing class and first clinical rotation. Graduation date must be within 18 months to qualify. Scheduling: Student nurse externs commit to a minimum of 24 hours over four weeks. Flexible scheduling is available to help work around your school schedule. Program Length: The Student Nurse Externship ends upon graduation from nursing school with the goal of transitioning to a graduate nurse position and joining the Graduate Nurse Residency program. Our Student Nurse Externship provides real-world, hands-on clinical training across various units, all under the guidance of a dedicated preceptor. Opportunities include: • 1:1 clinical training with experienced nurses • Apply classroom knowledge to a clinical setting • Expand your knowledge of hospital practice • Explore various specialties • Build a professional network Hourly Rate: $18.00 per hour SSM Health values the skills and talents that each team member brings to our organization. Compensation for this role is based on a variety of components including relevant experience, labor market, and other qualifications. The posted pay range for this position is what SSM Health reasonably expects, in good faith, to offer based on the circumstances at the time of posting. SSM Health may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range as permitted by law. Job Summary: Under supervision and in collaboration with other health care professionals, assists in performing a variety of nursing care services for patients. This is a transitional role for nursing students enrolled in an accredited school of nursing who have an interest in pursuing an RN position with SSM upon completion of their RN program. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Completes patient care tasks based on skills deemed competent in nursing school under direction of RN. • Contributes to overall quality and safe care for patients by answering patients’ calls for help, taking their vital signs, and monitoring their behavior and physical condition for progress or deterioration as measured by patient satisfaction, quality audits, direct observation. • Creates a positive patient experience by assisting patients with their activities of daily living including assisting with baths, ambulating, feeding, skin care, personal and oral hygiene and making occupied and unoccupied beds as measured by patient satisfaction quality audits and direct observation. • Contributes to quality care and safety by assisting and performing procedures such as performing dressing changes, enemas, ostomy care, toileting, turning, cough and deep breathing, catheter care, collection of biological specimens, measuring and recording intake and output of fluids. • Contributes to exceptional patient satisfaction by establishing a compassionate environment, timely responses to patients' needs, open communication and providing emotional and psychological support. • Contributes to safety and quality care by relaying information via charting and communicating to team members. • Contributes to achievement of exceptional health care by functioning as a member of the team as measured by active participation in department initiatives, unit meetings, committees and special projects. • Informs licensed nurse of any changes in patient condition/needs, of patient complaints, and of patient/significant other educational needs. • Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal as indicated. • Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment in keeping with patient care needs and cost containment. Utilizes time and supplies economically and conscientiously. • Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation, or no more than 90-days post conferral date EXPERIENCE • No experience required PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Constant standing and walking. • Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. • Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry. • Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Occasional lifting/moving patients. • Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors. • Occasional driving. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) Work Shift: Variable Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 1003000046 Pat Rms 3200 CSU Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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