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Registered Nurse- Med Surg ICU -PRN

Mercyhealth · Crystal Lake, IL · $34.45–$51.68 an hour · Per diem

Posted Sep 10, 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

This PRN role covers med-surg and ICU at Crystal Lake. Tell me about your experience in each.

What they are checking: Whether they can safely care for both acuity levels and are honest about gaps.

As a PRN nurse, how do you keep up with protocols and skills when you work less often?

What they are checking: Whether they take ownership of staying competent across two specialties.

Tell me about a time you identified sepsis early. What did you notice?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize subtle sepsis signs and act on sepsis bundles promptly.

What availability can you commit to, and how do you handle picking up shifts on short notice?

What they are checking: Whether their PRN availability truly fits what the unit needs.

What would you do

How do you shift your mindset between a five-patient med-surg assignment and a two-patient ICU assignment?

What they are checking: Whether they adjust their monitoring and pacing to the acuity in front of them.

A med-surg patient becomes hypotensive and confused after surgery. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize deterioration and call a rapid response early.

How do you prioritize when an ICU patient and a med-surg patient both need you?

What they are checking: Whether they triage by risk and ask for help instead of trying to cover both alone.

About the work

Walk me through how you care for a patient on a vasopressor drip.

What they are checking: Whether they know titration, line access, MAP goals and monitoring for vasopressors.

How do you manage pain for a post-op patient who also has sleep apnea?

What they are checking: Whether they understand opioid risks and monitor breathing closely in high-risk patients.

How do you give and get a safe handoff when you are new to the team that shift?

What they are checking: Whether they ask the right questions and give clear reports with no gaps.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Mercyhealth.

Overview: Provides compassionate, culturally sensitive, holistic nursing care to patients in a clinical setting. Schedule: PRN or registry for commitment of hours per month Shift: Days ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Utilizes the nursing process and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members in caring for patients. • Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques, policies and procedures, standards of care, and State laws practice act. • Documents according to standards of care. • Performs assessments, planning, intervention, and evaluation of care. • Develops, initiates, and executes a patient plan of care according to the individualized needs of the patient, as prescribed by Physician and or clinic policy including patient and family instruction. • Participates in department or unit performance improvement activities, may include shared governance. • Utilizes clinical expertise and guidance to other units’ departments in support of the patient’s longitudinal plan of care. • Utilizes critical thinking regarding patient safety and patient experience and appropriately escalates to the appropriate chain of command. • Participates in the professional nursing continuum process, unit practice activities and decisions and peer review process. EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE Graduate of an accredited nursing program. ADN required upon hire, BSN preferred. May require specific years of applicable experience to qualify (per department guidelines) CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE Licensed as an RN in state of practice Approved CPR/BLS certification required within 90 days Other certification(s) per unit requirements. For example : ACLS, PALS, PEARS, and NRP OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES May include color blind test (per department guidelines) PAY RANGE: $34.45 - $51.68 Mercyhealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Mercyhealth offers competitive pay and benefits, including retirement, time off, on-demand pay, access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and more. Click here for more details. At Mercyhealth, we don’t simply hire people, we empower employee-partners who are passionate about making lives better. As an integrated health system, we deliver exceptional, coordinated across seven hospitals, 85 primary and specialty clinics, and a team of over 7,500 professionals serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Mercyhealth has been nationally recognized for our commitment to our people and culture, including: • #1 in the nation on AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50 • One of Working Mother magazine's 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers • A Top 50 Company and Top 10 Nonprofit for Executive Women

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