JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) - Neuro / Neurosurgical ICU

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 9, 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 patient's neuro status that turned out to be significant. What did you do?

pattern recognition and escalation habits in neuro assessment, since subtle changes are often the earliest warning sign in this population

Tell me about a rapid response or code you were part of, whether as the primary nurse or as a responder. What was your role and what happened?

real experience functioning under acute pressure and ability to describe actions clearly, relevant since this unit staffs the STAT team

How do you talk with a family when their loved one comes in from the OR after major neurosurgery and the outcome is still uncertain?

communication skill and emotional composure with families facing high-stakes, ambiguous prognoses

Describe a situation where you disagreed with a physician's plan for a patient. How did you raise it and what happened?

advocacy skills and ability to communicate concerns respectfully within a hierarchical team of neurosurgeons and intensivists

What draws you to neuro critical care specifically, versus another ICU specialty?

genuine interest and motivation for the specialty since the posting explicitly calls for passion for neuro care

Technical

Walk me through how you would assess a patient in the first hour after a craniotomy. What are you watching for and how often?

whether the candidate knows core post-craniotomy monitoring priorities like ICP, pupil checks, and neuro checks frequency

What's your approach to caring for a patient with elevated ICP? What interventions do you reach for first and why?

depth of knowledge in ICP management, including positioning, sedation, and osmotic therapy, and clinical reasoning behind sequencing

What do you know about caring for patients who arrive by Flight for Life or as tertiary transfers, and how does that change your initial workup compared to a routine admission?

understanding of the added complexity and unknowns that come with transfer patients versus direct admits

If you had a patient with a new seizure disorder who started seizing at the bedside, walk me through exactly what you'd do in the first two minutes.

hands-on competency and sequencing during an acute seizure event, a core scenario for this unit

Situational

A patient on continuous EEG monitoring starts showing a new pattern on the strip but looks clinically unchanged. What's your next move?

comfort interpreting or reacting to EEG data and knowing when to call the neurologist versus watch and reassess

How do you manage a patient who just received tPA and needs frequent neuro checks and blood pressure monitoring at the same time you're getting report on a new admission?

prioritization and time management under the specific workload pressures of stroke protocol nursing

You're managing a fresh post-op spine patient and get called to assist on a STAT team response elsewhere in the hospital. How do you handle that?

judgment about balancing primary patient safety against system-wide responsibilities like the rapid response role

How do you keep yourself sharp and prevent errors on a night shift, especially toward hour ten or eleven of a twelve-hour shift?

self-awareness about fatigue management given the night shift, every third weekend schedule

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Nights, 12 hr shift, every 3rd weekend rotation , 50% holiday requirement Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Join the Neuro/ Neurosurgical ICU team at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center - A SIX Times Magnet Designated Facility! 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: Advanced critical care. Meaningful impact. Every shift. Join a highly specialized Neuro/Neurosurgical ICU team where you’ll care for some of the most complex and critically ill patients while building deep expertise in neurological and surgical critical care. This is an environment where strong clinical judgment, collaboration, and continuous learning come together to drive exceptional patient outcomes. Our Neuro ICU nurses are at the forefront of caring for patients requiring advanced neurological monitoring and life-saving interventions—making a difference when it matters most. What You’ll Ex perie nce • Care for high-acuity patients including: • Post-craniotomy, spine, and complex neurosurgical cases • Acute stroke patients, including post-tPA and interventional radiology procedures • Patients with seizure disorders requiring continuous EEG monitoring • A wide range of complex neurological conditions • Work in a dynamic environment where most patients are admitted from: • Operating Room • Emergency Department • Tertiary Access Program (system transfers) • Ground and Flight For Life transport What Makes This Role Unique • Serve as part of the hospital’s Rapid Response (STAT) Team, supporting patients and colleagues across the organization • Gain exposure to advanced neuro critical care and complex surgical recovery • Collaborate closely with neurosurgeons, neurologists, intensivists, and interdisciplinary teams • Strengthen clinical judgment, critical thinking, and rapid decision-making skills • Be part of a team that values support, growth, and continuous learning 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 neuro care • A commitment to teamwork, communication, and continual professional growth • 1 yr acute care RN experience preferred 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 St. Luke’s Medical Center is a destination for advanced care, innovation, and excellence. As the only hospital in Wisconsin with a 24/7 on‑site heart‑care team, St. Luke’s delivers premier cardiac and stroke services recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Whether patients require common surgery or pioneering treatment, our specialty physicians provide expert care and excellent outcomes—placing you at the center of some of the most advanced care in the region. Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now to begin your journey on a unit where learning, teamwork, and innovation define every shift! Night Shift Differential - $5/hr Weekend Differential $4/hr 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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