JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg Ortho PM

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 15, 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 cared for a post-surgical orthopedic patient and had to manage their pain while also watching for signs of complications like a blood clot or infection.

real hands-on experience with post-op ortho assessment and pain management balance, not just textbook knowledge

Describe a shift where you had a bariatric patient, a urology patient, and a telemetry patient all at once. How did you organize your care and your time?

ability to handle the actual diagnostic variety this unit is known for, not a narrow specialty comfort zone

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician or provider about a patient's care plan. How did you handle it?

whether they can advocate for patients respectfully within a hierarchical clinical team

How do you personally stay organized and keep from missing tasks during a busy 12-hour shift, especially near the end when you're tired?

self-awareness about fatigue and a real system for preventing errors late in long shifts

Can you describe a time you worked closely with physical therapy, case management, or other disciplines to get a surgical patient ready for discharge?

experience with the interdisciplinary coordination this unit relies on for surgical recovery patients

Tell me about a time you noticed a near-miss or safety issue on your unit. What did you do about it?

whether they proactively report and address safety concerns rather than staying quiet, which matters for a Magnet-designated hospital's culture

Technical

How do you assess and document a change in a patient's condition that could indicate something like a post-op complication, and who do you escalate to first?

understanding of clinical assessment skills and the chain of communication expected on an acute med surg floor

What's your experience reading telemetry strips, and can you tell me about a time you caught something abnormal and what you did next?

baseline competency with cardiac monitoring since the unit takes some telemetry patients despite being primarily surgical

If you're new to this specialty mix, what's your plan for getting up to speed on ortho-specific care, like monitoring for compartment syndrome or DVT after joint replacement?

whether new or transferring nurses have a realistic self-directed learning plan rather than assuming orientation covers everything

Situational

Walk me through how you'd prioritize your first hour on a med surg ortho unit if you're handed five patients, including a fresh total knee replacement, a post-op bariatric patient, and someone on telemetry showing a new arrhythmia.

whether the candidate can triage across mixed diagnoses quickly and safely, which is the core demand of this unit

A patient who had a sliding transfer earlier in the shift now needs to be moved again, and you only have one other person available instead of two. What do you do?

judgment about safety protocols versus real-world staffing constraints, and whether they'd cut corners under pressure

If a patient or family member became verbally aggressive or agitated during your shift, how would you de-escalate the situation while still keeping the rest of your patients safe?

comfort with verbal de-escalation and safety judgment, which the posting explicitly calls out as a physical requirement

This unit works second shift with three 12s or a mix of 12s and 8s, every third weekend, and half the holidays. How have you handled a schedule like that before, and what makes it work or not work for you?

honesty about whether the schedule is sustainable for them long-term, since turnover from schedule mismatch is costly

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: 35814 Aurora Sinai Medical Center - Med Surg: IU 4 Center Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: • Second shift • 1100-2330 three 12 hour shifts or a mix of 12 hr and 8 hr shifts • Every 3rd weekend rotation • 50% holiday rotation per year Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Med Surg Ortho Aurora Sinai Aurora Sinai Medical Center is a Magnet with Distinction Designated hospital 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: Come to a strong department with a great culture and safe rations where you can spend time providing the care you always wished for. Our 41-bed Medical Surgical Unit cares for a diverse patient population, providing nurses with the opportunity to build and strengthen their clinical expertise across multiple specialties. The unit primarily serves orthopedic, urological, bariatric, and general surgical patients, while also caring for some medical and telemetry patients. Why You'll Love This Unit: • Care for a wide variety of patient populations and diagnoses • Gain experience in both surgical and medical/telemetry nursing • Work alongside a supportive, interdisciplinary team committed to exceptional patient outcomes • Develop clinical skills in a fast-paced environment that encourages continuous learning and professional growth • Make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients throughout their recovery journey Whether you're an experienced nurse or looking to expand your practice in a diverse acute care setting, this team offers an excellent opportunity to grow your career while delivering compassionate, high-quality care. Advocate Aurora Health 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.  💙 Be part of a team where your expertise, collaboration, and commitment to patient care are valued every day!   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 • Strong interest and passion for service and health equity • A commitment to teamwork, communication, and continual professional growth • New grads Welcome! 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 Sinai Medical Center From preventive and diagnostic care to some of the most advanced medicine in the world, we’re dedicated to putting the patient at the center of all we do. Located in downtown Milwaukee, we offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art services and expert doctors in an atmosphere designed to promote healing and overall well-being. We are also home to tomorrow’s health care professionals and pioneering treatment options, with the University of Wisconsin Medical School’s Milwaukee Clinical Campus at our location. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, reach above shoulders, and twist frequently throughout the workday. • Must be able to: • lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Position requires use of foot pedals on carts or machines. • May be exposed to chemical and hazardous waste as well as blood and body fluids and communicable disease. Therefore, protective clothing and equipment must be worn as necessary. • Must have functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch with ability to use fine hand manipulation skills for IV insertion and other procedures/functions. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, reach above shoulders, and twist frequently throughout the workday. • Must be able to lift and support the weight of 35 pounds in handling patients, medical equipment, and supplies. • Must be able to: push/pull with 30 lbs. of force and perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Must have functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch with ability to use fine hand manipulation skills for IV insertion and other procedures/functions. • Maneuver foot pedals on carts or machines. • Perform physical safety interventions such as patient restraint and verbal de-escalation, if needed. • May be exposed to chemical and hazardous waste as well as blood and body fluids and communicable disease. Therefore, protective clothing and equipment must be worn as necessary. • Must be able to respond quickly to changes in patient and/or unit conditions. • Physical Abilities Testing may be required. • Additional department specific physical requirements may be identified for unique responsibilities within the department by the nurse leader. 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

More registered nurse med surg ortho roles

Related jobs

Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg Ortho

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 7 · Verified Sep 20

Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg Ortho

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 7 · Verified Sep 20

Registered Nurse (RN) - New Graduate - Med/Surg Ortho Trauma

Advocate Health · Summit, WI

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

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