JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse Surgical Care Pavillon

Advocate Health · Downers Grove, IL

Posted Aug 24, 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 surgical patient's condition changed quickly and you had to act before a provider was available.

clinical judgment and comfort making decisions under time pressure without hand-holding

Tell me about a time you had to delegate a task to an LPN or a nursing assistant and it didn't go the way you expected.

whether the candidate understands scope of practice limits and how they course-correct when delegation goes wrong

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a surgeon or another team member about a patient's care plan.

conflict resolution skills and whether they can advocate for a patient without damaging working relationships

This unit floats staff to other departments when needed. Tell me about a time you had to work in an unfamiliar area or with an unfamiliar patient population.

adaptability and whether floating anxiety is a real barrier for this candidate

Tell me about a time you noticed something wasn't right with a patient's safety, maybe a fall risk or a medication concern, and you had to speak up.

commitment to a culture of safety and willingness to raise concerns even when inconvenient

What does participating in unit councils or quality initiatives look like to you, and can you give an example from your own experience?

genuine engagement with professional governance versus just checking a box on the resume

Technical

Walk me through how you assess a post-op patient in the first hour after they arrive to your unit from the OR or PACU.

whether the candidate has a systematic post-surgical assessment process and knows what red flags to watch for

How do you decide what to document in the EHR in the middle of a busy shift versus what can wait until things calm down?

judgment about documentation timing and accuracy under real workload pressure, not just knowledge of the EHR

How would your approach to assessment and communication differ between an 8-year-old post-surgical patient and an 80-year-old one?

understanding of age-specific care principles mentioned explicitly in the job posting

Situational

Since this role is cross-trained between surgical care and PACU, how do you keep your skills sharp for both areas when your schedule leans heavier one way for a while?

self-directed learning habits and comfort with the dual-unit setup described in the posting

You're covering several post-op patients and one develops signs of a possible complication like a hemorrhage or a drop in oxygen while another patient's family is asking you urgent questions. How do you prioritize?

triage instinct and ability to protect patient safety while managing competing demands

A patient is refusing pain medication after surgery because they're scared of getting addicted. How do you handle that conversation?

patient education skills and ability to balance patient autonomy with clinical recommendations

How do you manage a shift where you're pulled between a heavy patient load and the physical demands of the job, like transfers or repositioning patients?

realistic self-awareness about the physical requirements and pacing needed for a fast surgical unit

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37732 Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital - Surgical Care Pavilion Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: M-F  2p-10:30P no weekends, no call, no Holidays Will primarily be in SCP and cross trained to PACU 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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