Registered Nurse (RN) - Intensive Care
Posted Sep 13, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 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.
Behavioral
Walk me through a time you had a patient whose condition suddenly declined in the ICU. What did you notice first and what did you do?
whether the candidate can recognize early warning signs and act decisively under pressure
Tell me about a shift where you were caring for a trauma, cardiac, or neuro patient at the same time as another critical patient. How did you prioritize?
ability to triage across a mixed acuity ICU population like this 14-bed unit
Describe a time a family member was struggling to cope with a loved one's critical condition. What did you say or do?
skill at supporting families, which the posting emphasizes as core to the unit's culture
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician or another nurse about a patient's plan of care. How did you handle it?
ability to advocate for a patient while keeping the working relationship intact
Describe a moment when you had to make a quick call without a lot of information, and it turned out to be the wrong one. What did you learn?
willingness to own mistakes and change practice, important in a high-stakes environment
Technical
How would you assess a patient for stroke symptoms, and what does the NIHSS actually tell you that a general neuro check doesn't?
depth of hands-on knowledge with the NIHSS certification required for this role
What is your process for a bedside handoff at shift change on a night shift ICU, especially with a unit that reassesses staffing every four hours?
understanding of safe handoff practices and adapting to frequent staffing changes
What's your approach to titrating vasoactive drips or managing a patient on multiple infusions at once?
hands-on comfort with core ICU nursing skills expected even from someone newer to critical care
Situational
You have a patient with an unstable rhythm and you're waiting on the physician to call back. What do you do while you wait?
comfort with ACLS-level decision making and knowing the limits of independent action
A patient becomes agitated and starts pulling at lines and trying to get out of bed. Walk me through your steps before you'd consider restraints.
judgment around verbal de-escalation and restraint protocols mentioned in the physical requirements
How do you keep yourself sharp and safe working three overnight shifts a week with rotating weekends?
self-awareness about fatigue management on a demanding night schedule
If you're newer to ICU but coming from a different unit, what part of critical care do you think will be the steepest learning curve for you, and how are you preparing for it?
honesty about experience gaps, since the posting explicitly considers non-ICU candidates with strong general RN experience
How do you approach a sliding transfer or repositioning a patient who weighs significantly more than you, especially at night with limited staff around?
practical understanding of the physical demands and safe patient handling described in the posting
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 loudThe full job description
As published by Advocate Health.
More registered nurse intensive care roles
Related jobs
Registered Nurse (RN) - Intensive Care
Posted Sep 14 · Verified Sep 20
Registered Nurse (RN) - Intensive Care
Posted Sep 14 · Verified Sep 20
Physical Therapist (PT) - Acute Care and Emergency
Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20
Medical Assistant (MA)/LPN - OB/GYN
Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20
Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Family Medicine - Full Time
Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20
Registered Nurse (RN) - Orland Park
Posted Sep 18 · Verified Sep 20