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Registered Nurse-Critical Care Float Full-Time Nights

Northwestern Medicine · Winfield, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 28, 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 types of critical care patients are you most comfortable with, and where would you need support?

What they are checking: Whether they can honestly describe their limits, which matters when floating to many units.

Tell me about a time you helped a less experienced nurse during an emergency.

What they are checking: Whether they can teach and support others calmly under pressure.

How do you build trust with staff on units where you are just visiting for a shift?

What they are checking: Whether they work well with new teams and are seen as helpful, not as an outsider.

Tell me about a code or rapid response that did not go well. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they can reflect honestly on hard situations and improve.

What would you do

You float to an ICU you have not worked on in months. How do you get oriented fast?

What they are checking: Whether they have a quick, reliable way to learn the unit's setup, staff and patients.

A floor nurse calls you for an RN consult about a patient who just doesn't look right. How do you approach it?

What they are checking: Whether they respect the floor nurse's concern and assess thoroughly instead of dismissing it.

A patient on the floor needs to transfer to the ICU, but no bed is open yet. How do you keep them safe?

What they are checking: Whether they stabilize, monitor closely and coordinate with the house supervisor.

About the work

As a critical care float, you will be on the rapid response and code blue teams. Walk me through what you do when you arrive at a rapid response.

What they are checking: Whether they can take charge, assess quickly and lead next steps on an unfamiliar unit.

What are the eight key behaviors of hourly rounding, and how do you fit them into a critical care assignment?

What they are checking: Whether they know the rounding behaviors the posting names and use them, not just recite them.

What is your role during a code, and how do you make sure the team stays organized?

What they are checking: Whether they know ACLS and can take on any code role while keeping clear communication.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Registered Nurse-Critical Care Float Full-Time Nights The RN Float-Critical Care reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. A clinically competent, registered, professional nurse who prescribes, delegates and coordinates nursing care to the acutely ill patient through the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation. Effectively interacts with patient, significant others, and other health team members, while maintaining ANA standards of professional nursing practice. Responsibilities: • Nursing Process - Collects and analyzes data, identifies expected outcomes, develops and implements an individualized plan, coordinates care delivery and evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes. • Consistently demonstrates the eight key behaviors of hourly rounding. • Directs care and determines the appropriate utilization of any assistant involved in providing direct patient care. • Performs role as critical response RN effectively including participation on the rapid response and code blue teams, RN/tele consults, and patient visitations. • Creates a documented plan, focused on outcomes and decisions related to the care and delivery of services that indicates communications with patients, families, and others. Required: • Bachelor of Science in Nursing • Current State of Illinois Registered Professional Nurse • CPR – Basic Life Support • CPR – Advanced Cardiac Life Support Preferred: • Telemetry skills – must pass a basic EKG test within one month of hire • Two years of Intensive Care Unit experience Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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