Registered Nurse, Intermediate Care/Stepdown Unit - Days
Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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 does an intermediate care or stepdown patient look like to you, and how is that different from med-surg or ICU?
What they are checking: Whether they understand stepdown acuity and the close monitoring it requires.
Tell me about a time you taught a patient going home with a new heart or lung diagnosis.
What they are checking: Whether their teaching sets the patient up to avoid readmission.
Describe a time you worked with the interdisciplinary team to change a patient's plan.
What they are checking: Whether they collaborate with respiratory therapy, pharmacy and providers instead of working alone.
Why are you interested in stepdown nursing specifically?
What they are checking: Whether they want this acuity level and will grow in it rather than using it as a stopgap.
What would you do
A patient who just came from the ICU starts to look worse during your shift. What signs do you watch for and what do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they catch early deterioration and escalate before the patient needs a code.
How would you set priorities with four stepdown patients when two need meds at the same time and one has new chest pain?
What they are checking: Whether they address the possible cardiac event first and get help with the other tasks.
How do you care for a patient on BiPAP who is anxious and wants to take the mask off?
What they are checking: Whether they balance comfort and safety and know when the patient needs a higher level of care.
About the work
Walk me through how you interpret a telemetry rhythm change, such as new atrial fibrillation with a rapid rate.
What they are checking: Whether they can identify rhythms, assess the patient and know what to report and anticipate.
How do you manage a patient on a titratable drip like diltiazem or heparin?
What they are checking: Whether they know titration protocols, monitoring and labs for common stepdown drips.
How do you keep a stepdown patient safe from falls and complications like pressure injuries?
What they are checking: Whether they consistently apply prevention practices along with their higher-acuity monitoring.
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As published by Mercyhealth.