JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) Intensive Care Unit

Advocate Health · Elgin, IL

Posted Sep 14, 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

Walk me through a time a patient in your ICU started to crash and you had to act before the physician was at the bedside. What did you see, and what did you do first?

whether the candidate can recognize early decompensation and act within nursing scope without waiting on orders

Tell me about a shift where you had more than one unstable patient at the same time. How did you decide where your attention went first?

prioritization and triage skill under real ICU acuity and staffing constraints

Tell me about a time you caught a change in a patient's condition that others had missed. What tipped you off?

assessment vigilance and pattern recognition, core to ICU safety

Tell me about a difficult conversation you had with a family about a patient's prognosis or end-of-life decisions. How did you approach it?

comfort with high-stakes communication and compassionate care under pressure

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician's plan of care. What did you do?

ability to advocate for patients while maintaining professional working relationships

Technical

How do you titrate vasoactive drips like norepinephrine or vasopressin, and what tells you it's time to call the physician versus adjust on your own within protocol?

depth of hands-on critical care medication management and understanding of nursing scope boundaries

Describe your experience with ventilator management, sedation vacations, and weaning protocols. What's your role in that process day to day?

technical fluency with core ICU equipment and evidence-based protocols

What's your process for a patient who needs a lift or repositioning and can't assist, especially if you're working with limited staff on the floor that shift?

awareness of safe patient handling policies and willingness to follow them even under pressure

Where are you in your BSN or certification path, and how are you thinking about meeting that requirement within the timeline here?

whether the candidate meets the credentialing requirements and has a realistic plan for compliance

Situational

A trauma patient comes in as a level 2 trauma activation with multiple injuries and an unclear airway status. What are you assessing first, and what's your plan if the airway starts to fail?

clinical reasoning and airway management readiness specific to trauma ICU work

You're floated an extra critical patient on a night when the unit is already tight on staff. Walk me through how you'd handle your assignment and what you'd escalate to the charge nurse.

ability to advocate for safe staffing and manage workload realistically

How do you approach a patient handoff when transferring someone out of the ICU to a step-down unit or another facility?

understanding of continuity of care and communication standards during transitions

You notice a colleague is missing steps in infection control while working with a patient on isolation precautions. What do you do in the moment and afterward?

commitment to safety culture and willingness to address peer performance

This unit works 7 to 7 shifts with every third weekend and rotating holidays. How do you manage your energy and focus across a full shift like that, especially near the end of a stretch of shifts?

realistic fit with the schedule demands and self-awareness about fatigue management

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 10010 Advocate Sherman Hospital - Administration Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Day Full-time position 0.9 FTE ICU RN, every 3rd weekend. Rotating Holiday schedule. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL Registered Nurse (RN) • Registered Nurse (RN) – Intensive Care Unit • Scheduled Hours - 7am to 7pm • Every Third Weekend • Full time • 30-Bed ICU Unit • Level 2 Trauma • Competitive Benefit Package • Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, Tuition Reimbursement on Day 1 of employment! Job Summary: Using evidence-based practice, clinical decision making, compassion and skilled dialogue, the registered nurse leads efforts to create the safest patient environment and the best patient experience. The nurse delivers and coordinates patient-centered care across the continuum to support the successful transition of patients to other healthcare delivery systems or their home communities. The registered nurse is responsible for providing and coordinating comprehensive patient care through the appropriate utilization of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation, in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures. Position Requirements: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with Current IL RN license BSN preferred, ADN acceptable with agreement for nurses with less than 12 months of experience to enroll in BSN completion program to be completed in four years.  Nurses with more than 12 months experience in direct patient care must possess a BSN or obtain either BSN or Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) recognized nursing certification within one year of the date of hire or becoming eligible to sit for certification, whichever is later. Current AHA CPR Ability to work weekends, holidays, and different shifts in order to accommodate staffing Certain positions may need to take call Work environment includes probability of exposure to adverse, hazardous, or unpleasant conditions while caring for the sick Ability to assist in evacuation of patients in the event of a fire or other disaster Routinely works with potentially infectious specimens and patients Ability to respond to patients in a timely manner and access all areas of the unit Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other team member, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 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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