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Registered Nurse - Stepdown / Critical Care

SSM Health · WI · Part time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.

About your past

Tell me about a time a patient you were caring for needed a rapid response or a code. What was your role?

What they are checking: Whether they stay calm and useful in an emergency and know what to do before help arrives.

This is a full-time night position, 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., with every third weekend and a holiday rotation. What's your experience with nights, and how do you stay safe on them?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle the physical toll of nights and stay alert with fewer resources around.

At night there are fewer providers on site. Tell me about a time you had to call a physician in the middle of the night. How did you prepare for that call?

What they are checking: Whether they give clear, organized reports like SBAR so they get the orders the patient needs.

Describe a time you disagreed with a plan of care. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can raise concerns respectfully through the right channels while still keeping the patient safe.

What would you do

Your ratio changes from 1:1 to 3:1 depending on acuity. How do you handle a 3:1 assignment where one patient starts to go downhill?

What they are checking: Whether they can stabilize the sickest patient while making sure the others are covered by the team.

A family wants to stay at the bedside overnight but the patient is unstable and the room is crowded with equipment. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance family needs with safety and explain limits kindly without shutting the family out.

About the work

Walk me through how you manage a patient on a titratable drip, like a vasopressor or a heparin infusion.

What they are checking: Whether they know the protocols, the monitoring and the safety checks that high-risk infusions require.

A stepdown patient's telemetry shows new atrial fibrillation with a rapid rate. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can read the rhythm, assess the patient's stability and escalate with the right information.

How do you decide when a stepdown patient needs to move up to ICU level care?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize the signs of decline and advocate for a higher level of care before it's an emergency.

How do you prevent common complications in critical patients, like pressure injuries, falls or infections from central lines?

What they are checking: Whether prevention bundles are part of their daily routine and not an afterthought.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling WI-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison Worker Type: PRN1 Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. In this role, you will provide hands-on support in a fast-paced care environment where every shift makes a direct impact on patients and families. Your attention to detail, compassion, and ability to work closely with clinical teams will help create a safer, smoother care experience. If you enjoy interacting with patients and want to grow in a collaborative care setting, this role is perfect for you. Department: Cardiovascular Care Unit Schedule: PRN1, Rotating Shifts Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday. Job Summary: Provides direct nursing care in settings where patients require complex assessments and intervention, in accordance with established policies, procedures and protocols of the healthcare organization. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Obtains comprehensive data pertinent to the patient from the patient, family other healthcare providers to develop a holistic picture of the patient’s needs or condition. • Analyzes and synthesizes data from the assessment in determining diagnosis or conditions relevant to care. • Identifies optimal outcomes for the patient in collaboration with the patient, family and interprofessional team. • Develops a plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain outcomes, using clinical judgement in collaboration with patient, family and interprofessional care team. • Implements the plan, employing strategies to promote and maintain a safe environment, coordinates implementation with patient, family and interprofessional team. • Evaluates processes and progress toward attainment of goals and outcomes. • Contributes to the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice, evaluates their own practice, and maintains current knowledge and competence. • Communicates effectively in all areas of practice, collaborates with patient, family and interprofessional team. • Uses clinical inquiry and integrates best evidence into practice. • Applies the existing body of evidence-based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to critical care nursing practice, ensuring that nursing care is delivered based on patient’s age-specific needs and clinical needs as described in the department's Scope of Service. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing EXPERIENCE • No experience required PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Constant use of speech to share information through oral communication. • Constant standing and walking. • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent sitting, reaching and keyboard use/data entry. • Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Frequent use of smell to detect/recognize odors. • Frequent use of hearing to receive oral communication, distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Occasional lifting/moving of patients. • Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting, gripping and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Occasional driving. • Rare crawling and running. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Professional Nurse (RN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) State of Work Location: Missouri • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration • Or • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) State of Work Location: Oklahoma • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State • And • Registered Nurse (RN) - Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) State of Work Location: Wisconsin • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) • And • Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State • Or • Registered Nurse (RN) - Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services • And • Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) • Or • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA) • Or • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) • Or • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Work Shift: Rotating Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 1005000007 5E Cardiovascular Care Unit Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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