JobsAdvocate Health

Same Day Surgery/PACU RN

Advocate Health · Burlington, WI

Posted Sep 7, 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 quickly while you were recovering them. What did you notice first and what did you do?

pattern recognition under pressure and whether they escalate appropriately instead of freezing or waiting too long

Tell me about a time you had to push back on a surgeon or anesthesiologist about a patient's readiness for discharge or the next phase of care.

willingness to advocate for the patient and communicate assertively across the hierarchy

Tell me about a time you delegated a task to an LPN or unlicensed assistive person and it didn't go the way you expected. What did you do?

understanding of scope of practice and how they course-correct when delegation breaks down

Tell me about a time you caught a documentation error or gap in the EHR before it caused a problem for the patient.

attention to detail and ownership of accurate charting in a fast-turnover environment

What's something you changed in your own practice recently because of new evidence or a unit-level quality initiative?

engagement with professional development and unit councils, which the posting explicitly values

Technical

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

whether the candidate has a systematic, safety-first approach to post-anesthesia assessment rather than a checklist recited from memory

How do you manage a patient's pain in PACU when they're still groggy and can't reliably tell you their pain level?

clinical judgment around pain assessment tools and titrating medication safely in a non-verbal or semi-conscious patient

What discharge criteria do you use to decide a patient is ready to go home after same-day surgery, and what makes you hold someone longer?

knowledge of standard PACU discharge scoring and clinical judgment beyond just following a checklist

How do you adjust your approach when your PACU patient is a young child versus an older adult with multiple health conditions?

real understanding of age-specific care rather than a generic answer, since the posting specifically calls this out

Situational

You've got two patients coming out of anesthesia at the same time, one with a rocky airway history and one who's just nauseated and anxious. How do you prioritize your attention?

triage judgment and comfort managing competing acute needs without dropping either patient

This role has you rotating between Aurora Medical Center Burlington, Aurora Lakeland, and Southern Lakes Surgery Center, plus occasional floating. How do you handle walking into a unit that isn't your usual one and getting oriented fast enough to be useful?

adaptability and whether they have a personal method for quickly learning unfamiliar equipment, layout, and team dynamics

Describe how you'd handle a call shift where you're paged in overnight for an unexpected recovery. What's going through your head on the drive in and once you get there?

readiness for the on-call demands of the schedule and ability to shift into clinical mode quickly with limited backup

A family member in the waiting area is upset and demanding updates while you're mid-recovery with their loved one. How do you handle that?

communication skills and ability to manage family anxiety without compromising patient care

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 70156 AMC Burlington - PACU: ASC Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 28 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Shift varies: 0600-1430 or 0800-1630, will work at any three of our locations: Southern Lakes Surgery Center, Aurora Medical Center Burlington, or Aurora Lakeland Medical Center. Call shifts are for Aurora Medical Center Burlington and would be one call day per week and every 8-10th weekend. 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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