JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) Neuro ICU

Advocate Health · Oak Lawn, IL

Posted Sep 8, 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 a time you noticed a subtle change in a neuro patient's exam, like a slightly sluggish pupil or a new pronator drift, before it became obvious to anyone else.

pattern recognition and trend-based vigilance, since neuro decline can be gradual and easy to miss on routine checks

Describe a situation where you had to advocate for a faster response from a physician or rapid response team because you believed a patient was deteriorating.

comfort with speaking up in a hierarchy and trusting clinical judgment over waiting for permission

Tell me about a time you had to delegate tasks to an LPN or unlicensed assistive staff during a busy or unstable shift. How did you decide what to hand off?

understanding of scope of practice and safe delegation judgment under pressure

Tell me about a time you were floated to another unit. How did you adjust and make sure the patient still got safe care?

flexibility and safety awareness when working outside a comfort zone, since floating is explicitly part of this role

Describe a time you disagreed with a colleague about a patient's plan of care. How did you resolve it?

conflict resolution ability and whether ego or patient safety drives their decisions

What have you done in the last year to keep your critical care or neuro-specific skills and certifications current?

whether continuing education is a real habit, matching the posting's emphasis on professional development and certification maintenance

Technical

Walk me through how you'd do a full neuro assessment on a fresh post-craniotomy patient and what specific findings would make you call the physician right away.

whether the candidate has real neuro ICU assessment depth, like pupil checks, motor scoring, and knows genuine red-flag thresholds versus generic ICU knowledge

How do you manage a patient with an EVD when you need to reposition them, transport them, or take them for imaging?

hands-on competency with a device unique to neuro ICU and awareness of how mishandling it causes harm

What's your approach to managing a patient in status epilepticus, from recognition through medication administration?

clinical protocol knowledge for a common and time-critical neuro ICU event

How do you keep your documentation accurate and current in the electronic health record when things are moving fast and you're constantly interrupted?

discipline around EHR accuracy despite the chaotic pace typical of critical care

Situational

A patient with an external ventricular drain suddenly has a large amount of bloody drainage and a change in mental status. What do you do first, second, and third?

whether the nurse can prioritize under a true neuro emergency and knows EVD troubleshooting and escalation order

How would you handle a family who is struggling to understand a poor neuro prognosis, especially if they're pushing back on what the care team is telling them?

communication skill with families in emotionally loaded, high-stakes conversations that are common in neuro critical care

You're assigned two patients and one just came back from thrombectomy needing frequent neuro checks while the other is spiking a fever and looks septic. How do you manage your time?

prioritization skills in a fast-paced unit where competing acute needs are the norm

What does a culture of safety mean to you in practice, and can you give an example of when you spoke up about something that felt unsafe?

genuine commitment to reporting and preventing errors versus just giving the expected answer

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34508 Advocate Christ Medical Center - Critical Care: NCCU Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Join Excellence. Thrive in Innovation. Become part of a 2-time Beacon Award-winning Neuro Critical Care Unit at a 5-time Magnet recognized hospital, where exceptional patient care, team engagement, and nursing excellence come together. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Major Responsibilities: • Engages in unit councils, professional governance, and quality initiatives to improve care processes and apply evidence-based practices. • Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, diagnose, implement, and evaluate nursing care, engaging patients and families through the continuum of care. • Monitors patient conditions, adjusts care plans, mobilizes resources, and collaborates with the care team to influence care outcomes. • Upholds and promotes a culture of safety. • Continuously evaluates patient, team, and unit outcomes, taking action as needed. • May administer medications, treatments, and therapies safely and according to clinical protocols and procedures. • Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution, fostering team collaboration and appropriate delegation. • Pursues professional development, completes required education, and maintains certifications. • Adhere to the ANA Code of Ethics and practices ethical decision-making, respects interdisciplinary roles, and contributes to integrated, unbiased patient care. • Appropriate delegation to other Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and unlicensed assistive personnel (i.e., nurse aides, credentialed medical assistants, etc.). • Maintains accurate, timely EHR documentation. • May be required to float to other units, departments, care areas, or facilities within the designated service area to meet patient care needs. • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards Minimum Job Requirements  Education Graduate of a Board of Nursing approved nursing education program.  Certification / Registration / License  • Basic Life Support (BLS). Additional education, training, certifications, or experience may be required based on specialty.  • Active registered nurse (RN) multi-state compact and/or single-state license with privileges to practice in the state(s) where the RN is providing client nursing services  Note : Licensed nurses practicing via telehealth/telenursing/virtual modalities are required to be licensed or hold the privilege to practice in the state(s) where the client(s) is/are located. Licensed nurses are responsible and accountable for knowing, understanding, and practicing in compliance with the laws, rules, regulations, and standards of practice of the state(s) where the client(s) is/are located.  Experience Typically requires 1 year of experience in clinical nursing.  Knowledge / Skills / Abilities  • Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking.  • Time management, prioritization and problem-solving skills.  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.  • Proficiency in operating computer functions (e.g., E-mail, electronic records, digital platforms etc.) clinical, aviation, maintenance, communications, and administrative departments.   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.  Preferred Job Requirements  Education Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN)  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. 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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