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Nursing Flex Staff - Registered Nurse

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · Chicago, IL · $35.50–$53.75 an hour · Full time

Posted Jul 7, 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

Teaching patients and families is a big part of this role. Tell me about a time you taught someone a skill they would need at home.

What they are checking: Whether they teach with teach-back and check real understanding, not just hand out information.

Tell me about a time you had to speak up about a safety concern with a provider or another nurse.

What they are checking: Willingness to escalate for patient safety, especially as a float nurse who may not know the team well.

What would you do

As flex staff you could be on the stroke unit one day and the spinal cord unit the next. How do you get oriented fast on a unit you have not worked recently?

What they are checking: Whether they have a routine for learning unit specifics, key contacts and patient risks at the start of a shift.

A patient with a high spinal cord injury suddenly has a pounding headache and very high blood pressure. What do you do?

What they are checking: Recognition and immediate response to autonomic dysreflexia, which is a rehab nursing emergency.

A patient with a brain injury is agitated and trying to get out of bed. How do you keep them safe without restraints?

What they are checking: Knowledge of behavior management and least-restrictive safety measures for TBI patients.

You are assigned to a unit where the staff seem to give flex nurses the hardest assignment. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Professionalism and constructive communication instead of resentment or silence.

About the work

Walk me through your head-to-toe assessment of a new spinal cord injury patient on a rehab unit.

What they are checking: Rehab-specific assessment, including skin, bowel and bladder, and autonomic dysreflexia risk.

How do you prevent pressure injuries in patients who cannot shift their own weight?

What they are checking: Practical prevention like turning schedules, skin checks and positioning, which is central in rehab nursing.

How does your nursing care support the goals that physical and occupational therapy are working on?

What they are checking: Understanding that rehab nurses carry over therapy skills into daily care instead of doing everything for the patient.

How do you handle bowel and bladder programs for a patient with a neurogenic bladder?

What they are checking: Competence with catheterization schedules and bowel programs, which are daily rehab nursing tasks.

How do you build a care plan that is right for a patient's age and stage, from a teenager to an older adult?

What they are checking: Age-specific care, which the posting names directly in the assessment duties.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab 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 Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions. By joining our team, you’ll be part of our life-changing mission and vision. You’ll contribute to an innovative, multifaceted culture that is second to none — one that embraces collaboration, excellence, discovery and compassion. You’ll play a role in something that’s never been done before as we integrate science and clinical care to help patients achieve better, faster outcomes — as we Advance Human Ability, together. Job Description Summary The Registered Nurse is responsible for performing individualized and age-specific nursing assessment of assigned patients using advanced assessment skills and other medical data to formulate nursing diagnoses. Develops individualized care plans and provides and coordinates comprehensive nursing care. Instructs patients and significant others in care provided, disease and/or illness, expected outcomes and home care. The Registered Nurse consistently demonstrates support of the SRAlab statement of Mission and Philosophy by striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute. The Registered Nurse demonstrates SRAlab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and SRAlab Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, & Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties. Job Description Job Description The Registered Nurse will: • Provide professional nursing care for the comfort and well-being of patients, which includes performing specialized treatments, administering prescribed medications, and coordinating patient care with other departments. • Collect pertinent physiological, psychosocial, and functional data to formulate nursing diagnosis using evidence-based techniques and instruments. • Assist physician during examinations and treatments. • Formulate nursing diagnoses by interpreting data from health team members and integrate into written assessments. • Assess patients, identify changes in status, establish priorities for patient care, and identify crisis situations when needed. • Implement interventions consistent with the established plan of care and interdisciplinary treatment plan, evaluate progress toward goal attainment, and modify the plan of care as indicated. • Provide information to patient and significant others regarding care during hospitalization, expected outcomes, home care instructions, and referrals to appropriate health agencies and resources. • Prepare and provide reports on patient care plans to health team members, which includes completing assignment sheets, providing explanation of patient care plans, and completing documentation. • Collect and report pertinent physiological, psychological, and functional data based on patient plan of care or patient need. • Review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding SRAlab policies and procedures related to patient care to ensure comprehensive patient care. • Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of SRAlab. Reporting Relationships: • Reports directly to the Nurse Manager. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Professional knowledge of practice acquired by obtaining a Bachelor/Master of Science in Nursing from an accredited program or accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (with commitment to complete BSN/MSN within 2 years). • Illinois license to practice as a registered nurse. • Current CPR or BLS certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross required. • Understanding of the growth and development of infant, child, adolescent, young adult, middle-aged adult and geriatric patients. • Demonstrate the ability to interpret growth and development related information to assure patient needs are met. • Ability to communicate effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication. • Ability to take ownership for serving the customer, team and organization, for achieving goals and for resolving problems. • Willingness to adapt to changing work demands and work environment. • Demonstrated critical thinking skills and ability to make sound judgments to monitor and respond to patient needs or changes in condition. • Ability to anticipate, assess and address the needs of patients • Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 35 lbs. Working Conditions: • Normal patient care environment with little or no exposure to dust or extreme temperature. • Exposure to moderately adverse working conditions in performing certain patient care activities. • Occasional exposure to infectious diseases when working with patients. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Pay and Benefits*: Pay Range: $35.50 - $53.75 Benefits: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers a comprehensive benefits program that is competitive with our industry peers in our geographic locations: https://www.sralab.org/benefits *Benefits and benefits’ eligibility can vary by position. Actual compensation will be determined by equity and qualifications of the role. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunity without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, order of protection status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other characteristics protected by law. EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law - Know Your Rights | View our Full Policy Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an Affirmative Action Employer as required by law.

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