JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN)- Clinical Lead Surgical Trauma ICU

Advocate Health · Oak Lawn, IL

Posted Aug 27, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 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.

Behavioral

Tell me about your background in the ICU. What kinds of patients have you cared for and how many years have you been doing this work?

whether the candidate meets the 2-3 years ICU experience bar and has relevant acuity exposure

Tell me about a time you had to lead your peers during a crisis on the unit, even though you weren't officially in charge.

informal leadership capacity, since this is a clinical lead role without full charge authority

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a trauma surgeon or resident about a patient's plan of care. What did you do?

comfort advocating for patients within a physician-heavy, hierarchical environment

Tell me about a time a patient's family was struggling to cope with a traumatic injury. How did you support them alongside the clinical care?

ability to deliver compassionate communication in high-stress family situations

Tell me about a shift that didn't go the way you planned. What happened and what did you learn from it?

self-awareness and ability to reflect and adapt after difficult outcomes

What does creating the safest patient environment mean to you day to day on a 20-bed ICU like this one?

alignment with the unit's stated culture around safety and patient experience beyond just task completion

Technical

Describe your approach to serial neuro or hemodynamic assessments on a critically injured trauma patient. What are you watching for that would make you escalate?

depth of clinical assessment skill specific to trauma/surgical ICU patients

What is your experience managing IV vasoactive drips and titrating them based on patient response?

technical competency with high-risk medications common in surgical trauma ICU

How do you approach wound care and infection prevention for a patient with multiple traumatic injuries and lines?

practical knowledge of complex wound management and infection control standards

Situational

Walk me through how you'd manage a fresh post-op trauma patient on a ventilator who starts desaturating in the middle of the night with limited support around you.

clinical judgment and independent decision-making during a high-acuity event on night shift

As clinical lead, how would you handle a newer nurse who is falling behind on assessments during a busy shift and starting to fall behind on documentation?

coaching skills and ability to balance patient safety with staff development

If you had two critically unstable patients assigned to you and a rapid response call came in on the unit, how would you prioritize?

triage judgment and resource management under pressure with limited staffing

How would you handle a situation where a surgical resident gives you an order that doesn't sit right with your clinical assessment of the patient?

willingness to advocate for patient safety and escalate appropriately within the chain of command

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34511 Advocate Christ Medical Center - Critical Care: STIC Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Three 12-hour shifts per week 7p-7a with occasional weekends. Pay Range: $41.10 - $61.65 Registered Nurse (RN) Clinical lead Surgical Trauma ICU .9/7p Where You Will Work: STIC, or the Surgical & Trauma Intensive Care Unit, is a 20-bed ICU that cares for critically ill patients with a focus on traumatic injuries and close monitoring in the peri-operative phase of care. This collaborative environment is supported by our Trauma Surgeons & Consultants, Surgical Residents, Advanced Practice RNs, Nurses, and Nursing Assistants. Through ventilator management, serial assessments, intravenous infusions/medications, wound care, education, and rehabilitative therapies, our care team works tirelessly to support our patients and their recovery. We’ re Looking For: Minimum of 2-3 years experience in an ICU • 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 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: Advocate Christ Medical Center is part of Advocate Health Care, one of the nation’s leading health care networks. A nonprofit, 788-bed, premier teaching institution with more than 1,500 affiliated physicians, Christ Medical Center is one of the major referral hospitals in the Midwest for a number of specialties, including cancer care; cardiovascular services; heart and kidney transplantation; neurosciences; orthopedics; and women’s health. The hospital provides emergency care for more than 105,000 patient visits annually and has one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in Illinois. 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. Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now! 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.

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