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Registered Nurse - Critical Response

SSM Health · IL · $32.77–$52.43 an hour · Full 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

How do you support the floor nurse during a rapid response without taking over or making them feel judged?

What they are checking: Whether they act as a supportive expert who teaches, not one who criticizes.

Tell me about a code you were part of. What was your role, and what went well or poorly?

What they are checking: Whether they have real code experience and can reflect honestly on team performance.

How do you handle the stress of moving from one emergency to another all night?

What they are checking: Whether they have ways to stay steady and sharp through repeated high-pressure events.

What would you do

As a critical response nurse, you get called to a patient on a med-surg floor who is getting worse. Walk me through your first five minutes.

What they are checking: Whether they can quickly assess, stabilize and organize care on a unit that isn't their own.

A patient on the floor needs ICU care, but there are no ICU beds. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep a patient safe while escalating for beds and transfers.

This is a night role, 7p to 7a. How do you work with physicians and hospitalists at night?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate clearly with on-call providers to get timely orders overnight.

About the work

What early warning signs make you worry a patient is heading toward sepsis?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize sepsis early and know the steps for fast treatment.

What drips are you comfortable starting or titrating in a critical situation?

What they are checking: Whether they have the critical care skills needed to stabilize patients outside the ICU.

How do you decide when to call a rapid response yourself while you are rounding?

What they are checking: Whether they use criteria and judgment to step in early rather than waiting for a crisis.

How do you hand off a patient after a rapid response so nothing gets missed?

What they are checking: Whether they close the loop with the primary nurse and provider so the plan is followed.

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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: Regular Job Highlights: Sign-on Bonus: Please speak with your recruiter about sign on bonus eligibility! Schedule Options: Full Time available Schedule Time Options: 7p-7a Benefits : Competitive, affordable health insurance including but not limited to: • Getting paid every day! • Access up to $5,250 in tuition coverage per year • Paid maternity & paternity coverage • Adoption assistance • Various competitive health insurance options & wellness plans • Retirement benefits including employer matching plans • Long & short-term disability • Employee assistance programs (EAP) *Please note, benefits and eligibility can vary by position, exclusions may apply. #CoreHire Pay Range: $32.77 - $52.43 Pay Rate Type: Hourly 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: This role is pat of the expert clinical team in the acute care area. Prevents clinical deterioration in patients outside of intensive care units. Leads the Critical Response team's initial assessment of critically ill patients and has the ability and clinical skills to assess and implement early interventions to prevent cardiopulmonary arrest, better facilitating the patient's transition to a higher level of care. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Acts as the first level of support for the bedside nursing team when the condition of a patient is in question or jeopardy. • Educates and supports the bedside team in the evaluation and management of unstable patients. • Guides the bedside nursing team to help direct patient care. • Assists in determining when to escalate a rapid response. • Facilitates early and rapid transition of patients to a higher level of care. • Closely monitors patients who have recently transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU). • Utilizes available data from the electronic medical record and other sources to identify at risk patients. e.g. Deterioration Index, Sepsis score and other acuity scores. • Collects and maintains data related to Rapid Response and Code episodes to drive process improvement. • Participates in Ministry Rapid Response and Code debrief process and Regional Critical Response Nursing Team. • Applies the existing body of evidence-based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to critical care nursing practice, ensuring that nursing care is delivered based on patient’s age-specific needs and clinical needs as described in the department's Scope of Service. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing EXPERIENCE • Two years of registered nurse experience in critical care, emergency care or progressive care PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Constant use of speech to share information through oral communication. • Constant standing and walking. • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent sitting, reaching and keyboard use/data entry. • Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Frequent use of smell to detect/recognize odors. • Frequent use of hearing to receive oral communication, distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Occasional lifting/moving of patients. • Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting, gripping and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Occasional driving. • Rare crawling and running. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Professional Nurse (RN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) State of Work Location: Missouri • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State • Or • Registered Nurse (RN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) State of Work Location: Oklahoma • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State • Or • Registered Nurse (RN) - Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) State of Work Location: Wisconsin • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State • Or • Registered Nurse (RN) - Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) Work Shift: Night Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 8451000046 Patient Care Services Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36 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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