JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN)- Surgical 3CD

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 had a patient come back from PACU or step down from surgical ICU who was more unstable than the report suggested. What did you do?

whether the candidate can assess a deteriorating post-op patient quickly and escalate appropriately rather than waiting

Tell me about a time a patient's condition changed quickly on a telemetry monitor. What did you notice and what did you do next?

comfort reading telemetry and responding to cardiac changes, since 15 of 23 beds are telemetry

Describe a situation where you disagreed with a surgeon or physician about a patient's plan of care. How did you handle it?

ability to advocate for patients while maintaining a working relationship with the care team

This unit runs shared governance, where nurses and nursing assistants have a real voice in daily operations. Tell me about a time you pushed for a change on your unit and how you got buy-in.

willingness to engage in unit-level decision-making rather than just following existing routines

Tell me about a time you had to delegate tasks to a nursing assistant during a busy shift. How did you decide what to hand off and how did you follow up?

ability to work within a team model and maintain accountability for patient outcomes

If you're new to this level of acuity, coming from a lower-acuity med-surg unit or as a new graduate, what's your plan for building competence and confidence here in the first few months?

self-awareness about the learning curve and a realistic plan for growth on a unit that serves both new grads and experienced nurses

Technical

What signs would make you worried a patient is developing a post-operative complication like an anastomotic leak, DVT, or wound infection?

depth of surgical nursing knowledge specific to the colorectal, vascular, and GYN populations this unit serves

How do you approach pain management for a surgical patient who says their pain is not controlled but you're also concerned about oversedation or respiratory depression?

clinical judgment balancing patient comfort against safety risks common on a post-surgical unit

What's your process for patient handling and transfers, especially with a patient who needs a full sliding transfer, given the physical demands of this role?

awareness of safe patient handling practices and honesty about physical readiness for the job

Situational

Walk me through how you would prioritize your first hour on a shift if you're assigned a fresh post-op vascular patient, a colorectal patient two days out who is refusing to ambulate, and a GYN patient waiting for discharge teaching.

organizational and clinical judgment skills for managing a high-acuity, mixed-surgical caseload

If a patient becomes agitated or confused after surgery and starts trying to pull out lines, what's your approach before you consider restraints?

knowledge of de-escalation techniques and least-restrictive-intervention protocols mentioned in the job's physical requirements

How do you handle a shift where you're assigned a heavier patient load than usual, maybe covering for a call-off, on a unit that already works every third weekend and rotating holidays?

resilience and time management under the staffing and scheduling realities of this specific unit

How would you explain a discharge plan to a post-surgical patient who seems anxious and isn't retaining what you're telling them?

patient education and communication skills tied to the unit's strong patient experience scores

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 35812 Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center - Med Surg: IU 3CD Surgical Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Scheduled Hours 0700-1930 As for weekends/holidays...our current schedule: 1. RNs work every 3rd weekend.  2. RNs work every other holiday. We have a holiday assignment with group A & B that rotates every other year.  Unit 3CD has 23 bed specializing in the post-operative care of urology, colorectal, vascular, GYN and plastics. Most admissions come from PACU.   They give you the tools to work as an ICU step down. PTs are high-acuity. 3CD Nurses demonstrate their lifelong commitment to excellent clinical practice and patient outcomes. Recipient of the Lighthouse and Top Dog Awards for Patient Experience. If you are looking for a fun, exciting, high-achieving, and fast paced unit, 3CD is for you! Student Loan Forgiveness Tuition Assistance Military/Veteran Friendly Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Registered Nurse (RN) – Surgical 3CD   Milwaukee, WI  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:   3CD is a 23 bed post-op surgical unit with 15 beds for Tele Patients. 75% of patients are admitted from PACU or as stepdown from Surgical ICU. This is a fast-paced, high acuity surgical unit specializing in Gastroenterology, Urology, Gynecology, and Plastic Surgery populations. This is a great unit for experienced Med-Surg nurses seeking to advance their skills and grow in their practice. It is also a great foundational unit for new graduate nurses who seek to eventually develop into more advanced clinical settings, such as ICU, ED, OR, and NP. We are a strong performing inpatient unit as measured by their Nurse Sensitive Indicators and Patient Experience scores. 3CD team members are committed to excellent clinical practice and patient outcomes. Shared Governance is an essential part of the culture on the unit, where nurses and nursing assistants have a strong voice in the daily operations. 3CD received top tier team member engagement scores in 2021. 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   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:    The future of medicine is happening here at Aurora St. Luke’s, and you’re at the center. No matter what your need – common surgery or pioneering treatment – you can count on our experienced and specialty physicians to provide expert care and excellent outcomes. As the only hospital in Wisconsin with a 24/7 on-site heart-care team, you can expect to receive premiere cardiac services. Both the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have recognized Aurora St. Luke’s performance in treating cardiac and stroke patients. Physical Requirements & Working Conditions Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, twisting, and lifting throughout the workday. Must safely lift up to 35 pounds and perform patient handling tasks, including pushing/pulling up to 30 pounds and assisting with 150-pound sliding transfers. Requires functional speech, vision, hearing, touch, and fine motor skills for clinical procedures, as well as the ability to operate equipment foot controls. Must be able to respond quickly to changing patient conditions and perform patient safety interventions, including verbal de-escalation and restraints when necessary. Exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, and hazardous waste may occur; appropriate protective equipment must be used. Physical Abilities Testing and additional department-specific requirements may apply. 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. Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now!   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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