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RN-Stepdown ICU- Per Diem Day Shift
Posted Jul 13, 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
ACLS is needed within six months of hire. Tell me about a time you helped in a code.
What they are checking: Whether they can function in an emergency, which stepdown nurses will face.
Tell me about a time you questioned an order. What happened?
What they are checking: Whether they speak up when something seems wrong, which protects patients.
What do you do to keep growing your critical care skills?
What they are checking: Whether they invest in learning, which stepdown nursing rewards.
What would you do
Your patient just came out of the ICU and starts to get short of breath. What do you do first?
What they are checking: Whether they assess quickly, act and call for help before the patient worsens.
How do you prioritize three patients when two need attention at the same time?
What they are checking: Whether they can triage on a unit where patients can turn quickly.
How do you provide emotional support to a family scared after their loved one was moved out of the ICU?
What they are checking: Whether they help families understand that stepdown is progress and answer fears with honesty.
About the work
What kind of patient is right for stepdown ICU versus the full ICU, and how do you spot one who needs to go back up?
What they are checking: Whether they understand acuity levels and catch decline early.
How do you manage a patient on a titratable drip like diltiazem or heparin?
What they are checking: Whether they know drip protocols, monitoring and when to call the provider.
How do you read telemetry and decide when a change needs a call to the provider?
What they are checking: Whether they have the rhythm skills that stepdown patients need.
How do you give a safe handoff at shift change for a complex stepdown patient?
What they are checking: Whether they pass on the details that matter so the next nurse can act fast.
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As published by Southern Illinois Healthcare.
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