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Registered Nurse - Float Pool

SSM Health · WI · Full time

Posted Sep 4, 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

Which units are you most and least comfortable floating to, and what would you do if you got assigned to one you're not ready for?

What they are checking: Whether they're honest about their limits and will speak up rather than take an unsafe assignment.

Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly to a new team or way of doing things.

What they are checking: Whether they can work well with new people and fit in quickly without getting frustrated.

This is a night shift role, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with every third weekend. How do you stay sharp on nights?

What they are checking: Whether they have real habits that keep them safe working nights on changing units.

Tell me about a time you helped a unit that was really short-staffed.

What they are checking: Whether they bring a helpful, flexible attitude that makes them valued by every unit.

What would you do

As a float pool nurse, you may work on a different unit every shift. How do you get oriented quickly when you walk onto a floor you don't know well?

What they are checking: Whether they have a real routine for learning a unit fast and asking the right questions.

You're floating to a unit and one of your patients starts to go downhill. You don't know the staff well. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they know how to get help fast, like a rapid response, even on an unfamiliar unit.

A unit gives you the hardest assignment because you're the float. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they stay professional and raise safety concerns calmly instead of complaining.

How do you find supplies, policies or equipment on a unit where you've never worked?

What they are checking: Whether they are resourceful and comfortable asking for help instead of wasting time or guessing.

About the work

How do you keep up your skills across different types of patients, like med-surg, telemetry and post-op?

What they are checking: Whether they take responsibility for keeping a wide skill set current, which float work requires.

Walk me through how you give and receive handoff report so nothing gets missed.

What they are checking: Whether they use a structured report, since floats depend on clear handoffs more than anyone.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling. WI-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville Worker Type: Regular Job Summary: Provides direct nursing care in accordance with established policies, procedures and protocols of the healthcare organization. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Uses standards of medical-surgical nursing practice to increase the quality of care and quality of life for the patient, family, and significant other(s) by systematically evaluating the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice. • Establishes effective relationships and serves as an advocate with the patient, family, and significant other(s) to facilitate the development of the care plan unique to the patient’s care needs. • Uses the nursing process to develop and implement the plan of care, collect assessment data for each patient, determine appropriate nursing diagnoses, identify expected patient outcomes, determine the plan of care, implement interventions, and evaluate patient outcomes. • Develops assessment and management strategies based on a consideration of the physical, functional, cultural, social, economic, developmental, spiritual, vocational, and leisure dimensions of human responses to actual and potential health problems. • Demonstrates knowledge of the impact of actual or potential illness and each patient’s physical, functional, cultural, social, economic, developmental, spiritual, vocational, and leisure status. • Utilizes leadership skills by coordinating and collaborating with the patient, family, significant other(s), communities, and members of the interprofessional team in assessing needs, setting goals, planning interventions, providing care, and evaluating outcomes. • Utilizes effective communication to participate with the patient, family, significant other(s), and other health care providers in collaborative decision making that reflects the understanding that care should be culturally sensitive, ethical, legal, holistic, informed, compassionate, and humane, and within the boundaries of available economic resources. • Educates the patient, family, and significant other(s) about measures that promote, maintain, and restore health or promote comfort. • Fosters a healthy work environment within the practice setting and profession by serving as a mentor and role model for nursing colleagues, students, and others. • Applies the existing body of evidence-based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to medical-surgical 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. • May perform point of care testing according to policies and procedures. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing EXPERIENCE • One year registered nurse experience (Ministry Float) or two years' registered nurse experience (Regional Float) 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) State of Work Location: Missouri • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration • Or • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State 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) 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 Work Shift: Night Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 2000000026 Emergency Department Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36 Benefits: SSM Health values our exceptional employees by offering a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs. • Paid Parental Leave : we offer eligible team members one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE). • Flexible Payment Options: our voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday. • Upfront Tuition Coverage : we provide upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members. Explore All Benefits 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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