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Registered Nurse Operating Room Ortho Full Time Days Sign on Bonus Eligible

Northwestern Medicine · Palos Heights, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 1, 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

Ortho experience is required. Tell me about the orthopedic cases you've circulated or scrubbed.

What they are checking: Whether they have the hands-on orthopedic OR experience required.

Tell me about a time a count was off at the end of a case.

What they are checking: Whether they follow count protocols strictly and calmly.

How do you advocate for a patient who is under anesthesia?

What they are checking: Whether they see themselves as the patient's voice in the OR.

What would you do

A surgeon is getting impatient and pushing to move faster. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they stay calm and keep safety first under pressure.

How do you handle a case that runs late or an add-on emergency?

What they are checking: Whether they can adjust to schedule changes without cutting corners.

About the work

Walk me through how you set up and check a room for a total joint replacement.

What they are checking: Whether they know the equipment, implants and checks for ortho cases.

How do you lead a time-out, and what would make you stop a case?

What they are checking: Whether they take safety checks seriously and will speak up.

How do you keep sterile technique during a long ortho case?

What they are checking: Whether they protect against infection, which is a major risk in joint surgery.

How do you position a patient safely for a hip or shoulder surgery?

What they are checking: Whether they prevent nerve and skin injuries from positioning.

How do you work with vendor reps and implant tracking in the OR?

What they are checking: Whether they handle implant documentation accurately.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

At this time, Palos Hospital is not considering external ADN candidates for our RN openings. We appreciate your interest in Northwestern Medicine and encourage you to apply to other opportunities at https://jobs.nm.org/ . Internal ADN candidates are still encouraged to apply. Ortho experience is required $10K Sign on Bonus Employees are not eligible for the sign-on bonus Previous employees rehired within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. The Staff Nurse 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. • The registered professional nurse assumes accountability and responsibility for the individualized, age-specific care of a patient along the continuum from admission to discharge. She/He gives direct care to assigned patients and assists with other patient care when necessary. The registered professional nurse’s decisions and actions on behalf of the patient/family are determined in an ethical manner. She/He collects and analyzes the assessment data in determining nursing diagnoses, collaborates with the patient/family and other health care team members, develops a plan of care to attain realistic outcomes, provides education founded on evidence-based practice, and systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice. Responsibilities: • Assess and records patient status and identifies patient care needs upon admission/point of care entry. • Organizes the assessment health data so that it is accurate, complete and accessible. • Identifies problems that need immediate attention. • Validates diagnoses with patient/family and other health care team members. • Documents diagnoses in a manner that facilitates the determination of expected outcomes and plan of care. • Initiates Problem List at the time of admission and updates as needed. Incorporates principles of age-specific care into the patient’s plan of care. • Documents that the patient’s individualized plan of care has been discussed with and agreed upon by the patient/family. • Begins plans for discharge at time of admission; consults with patient/family and health care team members regarding discharge plan. • Identifies patient teaching needs on admission and throughout hospital stay. • Arranges conferences with patient and/or family and other members of health team when indicated to plan care. • Prioritizes and organizes nursing interventions that are evidence based and reflective of established standards of care. • Provides individualized, mutually agreeable, patient and family education that is founded on evidence-based practice and research guidelines. • Documents all assessments, interventions and patient responses. • Reviews consistently the patient’s health data to keep the Plan of Care updated. • Assures that revisions to the plan of care are systematic and ongoing and are driven by measurable realistic goals. • Documents the patient’s progression toward identified outcomes • Identifies unmet outcomes and provides direction for continuity of care. • Reassesses nursing actions for effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes. • Communicates with patient/family and health care team members re: patient care and nursing’s role in the provision of care. • Collaborates with patient/family and healthcare team members re: the patient’s progress/plan of care. • Presents relevant patient information at multidisciplinary meetings/conferences for feedback from peers. • Makes appropriate referrals as needed for continuity of care. Required: • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) • Current State of Illinois Registered Professional Nurse • American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) • Strong interpersonal skills • Ability to collaborate with others • Strong analytic abilities • Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) acceptable with commitment to obtain a BSN from an accredited program within three years of first day of employment in clinical nurse role. • Additional Requirements for the Emergency Room: ACLS, PALS/ENPC & TNCC within one year of hire Additional Requirements for the Pediatric Emergency Room: Pediatric Advanced Life Support TNCC within one year of hire Additional Requirements for Non-Invasive Cardiology: ACLS Preferred: Experience in specific clinical area Additional Preferences for the Emergency Room and the Pediatric Emergency Room: Trauma Nurse Specialist (TNS) Emergency Communications Registered Nurse Certified Pediatric Nurse Certified Emergency Nurse Preferred: • Experience in specific clinical area. 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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