Jobs › Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Registered Nurse 2 - Spinal Cord Innovation Center (22nd Floor), Full time, Nights

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

Posted Mar 12, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

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 caught a change in a patient's condition early on a night shift.

What they are checking: Whether they stay alert on nights and escalate concerns even when fewer people are around.

Tell me about a time a teammate asked you for help when you were already busy. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they contribute to the team on a demanding unit, which the posting says is expected.

What would you do

How would you teach a family member to manage a bowel and bladder program at home?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach complex home care in simple steps, which the posting names as a core duty.

A patient tells you at 3 a.m. that they don't see the point in therapy anymore. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can support patients facing life-changing injuries and know when to bring in more help.

You're worried about a patient's breathing overnight but the resident thinks it's fine. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they advocate firmly for patients and follow the chain of command when they disagree.

About the work

You're on nights on the Spinal Cord Innovation Center. A patient with a high-level injury suddenly has a pounding headache and high blood pressure. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize autonomic dysreflexia right away and act fast to find and remove the trigger.

How do you plan the overnight turning and skin checks for a patient who can't feel pressure?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how quickly pressure injuries develop in spinal cord patients and build prevention into the night.

Walk me through how you'd assess a newly admitted spinal cord injury patient on your shift.

What they are checking: Whether they use advanced assessment skills that cover breathing, bowel, bladder, skin and neuro function together.

How do you build a care plan that keeps the whole rehab team, not just nursing, working toward the patient's goals?

What they are checking: Whether they see nursing as part of an interdisciplinary rehab team and coordinate care accordingly.

What experience do you have with patients on ventilators or with tracheostomies?

What they are checking: Whether they can safely care for high-acuity spinal cord patients with airway needs.

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.

Practice this out loud

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 Shirley Ryan AbilityLab 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 Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, & Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties. 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 SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB. 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. • CPR certification. • 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.

Apply at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

More registered nurse 2 spinal cord roles