Registered Nurse Post Surgical jobs in Milwaukee, WI

Walk me through how you'd do a full assessment on a patient who just came up from PACU after a bowel resection.

What they are checking: whether the candidate has a systematic post-op assessment process and knows what to prioritize in the first hour on the unit

If you're new to this kind of high-acuity surgical unit, what's your plan for building competence and confidence in your first few months?

What they are checking: self-awareness and learning orientation, since the unit explicitly welcomes new grads

Tell me about a time a post-surgical patient's condition changed quickly and you had to act before you were completely sure what was happening.

What they are checking: comfort with clinical uncertainty and speed of response in a high-acuity setting

3CD is a 23-bed post-op surgical unit and this is a night position. Why this unit, and why nights?

What they are checking: Whether they chose this unit and shift on purpose and understand what nights on a surgical floor are like.

A patient one day after bowel surgery has a heart rate of 120, a low-grade fever and new belly pain. What are you thinking?

What they are checking: Whether they consider an anastomotic leak, bleeding or sepsis and escalate quickly instead of waiting for morning rounds.

What do you do to prevent common post-op problems like blood clots, pneumonia and falls?

What they are checking: Whether they use early movement, breathing exercises and fall precautions as daily habits, not just chart entries.

How do you handle pain management for a surgical patient who is also very sleepy from opioids?

What they are checking: Whether they watch for breathing problems from opioids and know how to use sedation scales before giving more.

New grads are welcome on this unit. If you are newer to nursing, how do you know when to ask for help?

What they are checking: Whether they know their limits and ask early, which is the biggest safety factor for a new nurse.