JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) PACU

Advocate Health · Elgin, IL

Posted Sep 15, 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 a patient started to deteriorate right after surgery. What did you notice first and what did you do?

pattern recognition for early warning signs and whether they escalate calmly under time pressure

Tell me about a time you had to make a quick call on pain management for a post-op patient who wasn't responding well to the ordered regimen.

clinical judgment balancing comfort against respiratory depression risk, and comfort contacting anesthesia or surgeons

Tell me about the last time you had to update a surgeon or anesthesiologist about a change in a patient's condition. How did that conversation go?

communication clarity with physicians and whether they push back appropriately when concerned

Describe a situation where a family member was anxious or upset while their loved one was recovering. How did you handle that?

patient and family experience skills, since the posting emphasizes best patient experience

Tell me about a time you caught an error, near miss, or unsafe situation before it affected a patient.

vigilance and willingness to speak up, tied to the posting's emphasis on the safest patient environment

Technical

Walk me through how you assess a patient in the first few minutes after they arrive in the PACU from the OR.

whether the candidate has a systematic post-anesthesia assessment framework, not just a checklist recited from memory

What's your process for managing a patient's airway if they start to desaturate while still emerging from general anesthesia?

hands-on airway management competence specific to PACU, since this isn't a general med-surg skill

How do you decide a patient is ready to be discharged from PACU to the floor or home?

knowledge of standard discharge criteria and whether they'd cut corners under volume pressure

What's different about caring for a patient in PACU compared to a general critical care unit, based on your experience?

genuine depth of PACU or critical care background versus a resume that just lists the words

Situational

A patient comes out of anesthesia agitated and starts pulling at their lines and airway. What's your approach?

safety judgment when a patient is a danger to themselves, and de-escalation skill without over-sedating

You're covering call overnight and get two patients coming out of the OR back to back. How do you handle that?

prioritization and honesty about asking for backup rather than overextending

This role has call one night a week and every third weekend with a 24-hour shift. How do you think that schedule will work for you, and have you done call like this before?

realistic self-assessment of fit with the demanding call schedule, not just a polite yes

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37710 Advocate Sherman Hospital - PACU Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: 4-10 hour flex shifts starting at 0700, 0800, 0900, 1000 or 1100 Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL Registered Nurse – PACU Scheduled Hours: 4 -10 hour flex shifts starting at 0700, 0800, 0900, 1000 or 1100 Full Time: 40 Hours a week CALL REQUIRED- 1 night a week (930p-7a) and every 3rd weekend-one 24-hour shift. *Must have PACU or Critical Care experience* 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 needs • 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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