JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) - Cardiac Surgical Stepdown

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Aug 31, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

Apply at Advocate Health

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you noticed a patient was starting to decline before it became an emergency. What did you see, and what did you do?

early recognition skills and willingness to escalate concerns rather than wait and see

This unit works closely with the CVICU. Tell me about a time you had to coordinate care with another unit or team during a patient transfer.

cross-team communication and handoff reliability, which matters heavily given the stepdown-to-ICU relationship

Tell me about a time a family member was upset or scared about their loved one's condition. How did you handle that conversation?

communication skills and composure with families in a high-stress cardiac surgery setting

Tell me about a time you had to speak up to a physician or a more experienced colleague because you disagreed with a plan of care.

assertiveness and psychological safety in advocating for patient safety

What does teamwork look like to you on a night shift with every third weekend, when staffing can feel tighter than during the day?

realistic expectations about the schedule and commitment to peer support during less-staffed hours

Why cardiac surgical stepdown specifically, and what draws you to this kind of nursing?

genuine interest in the specialty versus taking any open position, especially relevant since new grads are welcome

Technical

Walk me through how you would assess a patient on your unit who just came back from open heart surgery a day or two ago. What are you watching for?

whether the candidate understands post-cardiac-surgery assessment priorities like rhythm changes, bleeding, and hemodynamic status appropriate for a stepdown unit

How do you keep track of your patients when you have a full assignment of cardiac surgical patients, some with complex needs like a heart transplant or VAD?

organizational systems and ability to manage acuity and workload on a 48-bed unit

What does a heart transplant or VAD patient need that a standard cardiac surgery patient might not, in terms of your care and monitoring?

awareness of the phase-two specialty content of the unit's orientation and readiness to grow into it

Situational

If a patient on VAD support or fresh off ultrafiltration suddenly had a change in their vital signs, what would your first three actions be?

clinical judgment and prioritization under a specialty-specific, high-stakes scenario

Say you're working nights and you have a gut feeling something is wrong with a patient, but their vitals look okay on paper. What do you do?

trust in clinical instinct balanced with proper escalation and documentation habits

How would you handle it if you were assigned a patient population you hadn't cared for much yet, like your first ultrafiltration patient after finishing phase one orientation?

honesty about limits, willingness to ask for help, and comfort with a structured learning curve

If two patients needed your attention at the same time, one with a new arrhythmia and one anxious about their upcoming discharge teaching, how would you decide what to do first?

prioritization skills and ability to triage competing demands safely

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Nights (1900-0730) includes every 3rd weekend and 50% holidays requirements. Weekend Program available with additional premium for interested candidates Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Cardiac Surgical Unit Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center Our Cardiac Surgical unit is seeking a dynamic newly licensed or tenured nurses to join our team of nursing excellence. Join Aurora St. Luke's a 6 times Magnet designated Medical Center! Be the Nurse Who Redefines Care. At Advocate Health, being a nurse means more than delivering exceptional clinical care—it means leading with purpose, compassion, and boldness. As part of our One Advocate Nurse community, you’ll join a unified team committed to lifting others up, embracing innovation, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. You’ll be empowered to think boldly, collaborate with humility, and drive change through fearless curiosity. Whether you're at the bedside, in the community, or advancing care through research and education, you’ll help shape the future of health—because here, we’re redefining care for you, for us, for all. Your feedback matters. Every nurse’s voice is vital in shaping our culture and improving care. We value your insights and experiences because they help us grow stronger together. Where You Will Work: 9ST is a 48 bed Adult Moderate Acuity Cardiovascular Surgical unit. Working closely with the CVICU, we provide care to those patients needing specialty services before and after their heart surgery, heart transplant and/or ventricular assist device (VAD). Orientation to our unit is completed in two phases. Phase one focuses on the care of the cardiac surgical patient with phase 2 centering on the more complex needs of the heart transplant, ultrafiltration or VAD patient. Ensuring that our patients always receive care from the most professionally trained nurse we. 9ST is proud of our quality and patient satisfaction scores. Our dedicated team is always open to new nurses who are looking for a challenging but rewarding nursing career . This is an excellent environment for both experienced nurses and new graduate RNs, who are strongly encouraged to apply.   Aurora Health Care provides a leading-edge residency program with your future in mind. The New Graduate Nurse Residency Program is evidence-based and support the professional development, confidence, and overall well-being of the nurse resident as they transition from academia to the practice setting. This is a PTAP ANCC accredited Nurse Residency program.   Student Loan Forgiveness: up to $21,000 Tuition Reimbursement: up to $7,200 per year Nightshift differential: $5.00 per hour Referral Bonus Comprehensive and competitive benefit package We’re Looking For: • Completion of an accredited or approved program in nursing • Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the teammate practices • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association • New Grads Welcome! • Strong interest and passion for cardiac care • A commitment to teamwork, communication, and continual professional growth What You’ll Do: • As a skilled and compassionate RN, you will play a pivotal role in providing and coordinating comprehensive patient care through the nursing process to deliver safe, therapeutic care in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures. • Using evidence-based practice, clinical decision making, compassion, and skills communication while leading efforts to create the safest patient environment and the best patient experience across the continuum. About This Location: Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center is a destination for advanced care, innovation, and excellence. As the only hospital in Wisconsin with a 24/7 on‑site heart‑care team, St. Luke’s delivers premier cardiac and stroke services recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Whether patients require common surgery or pioneering treatment, our specialty physicians provide expert care and excellent outcomes—placing you at the center of some of the most advanced care in the region. Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now to begin your journey on a unit where learning, teamwork, and innovation define every shift! Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

Apply at Advocate Health

Related jobs

Physical Therapist (PT) - Acute Care and Emergency

Advocate Health · Elgin, IL

Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20

Medical Assistant (MA)/LPN - OB/GYN

Advocate Health · Franklin, WI

Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Family Medicine - Full Time

Advocate Health · Summit, WI

Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20

Registered Nurse (RN) - Orland Park

Advocate Health · Orland Park, IL

Posted Sep 18 · Verified Sep 20

GI Scheduler

Advocate Health · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 18 · Verified Sep 20

Supervisor Clinical Physician Practice (Orland Park)

Advocate Health · Orland Park, IL

Posted Sep 18 · Verified Sep 20