Pediatric Stepdown Registered Nurse
Chicago, Illinois
La Rabida Children's Hospital

Job Opportunity: Pediatric Stepdown Registered Nurse (PICU Experience Preferred)

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Overview

• Unit: Inpatient Pediatric Stepdown Unit (1 unit, 39 beds)
• Patient Population: Ages 2 weeks to 18 years old, 50-60% technology dependent (ventilators, tracheostomies, G tubes)
• Care Setting: Acute care for children with chronic illnesses; no drips or surgical patients, transitional patients only
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:3-4 (1:4 ratio experience required)
• Floating: Clinician may float within scope to meet facility needs
• Weekend Requirement: Scheduled every other weekend
• Schedule: Open to block scheduling
• Locals accepted at same rate as travelers

Required Experience & Certifications

• Years of Experience: Minimum 2 years in specialty
• Prior Travel Experience: Not accepted for first-timers (prior travel experience required)
• Licenses:

  • Valid Illinois RN license in hand at time of submission (Compact RN licenses NOT accepted)
• Certifications:

  • BCLS (Basic Life Support) - AHA required
  • PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) - AHA required
• Preferred Certifications:

  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - AHA preferred but not required
  • NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Procedure) - Preferred for Respiratory Therapists
• Special Skills:

  • Experience with vents, tracheostomies, and G tubes required
  • Meditech charting experience required
• Vaccinations:

  • Flu vaccine required (medical and religious exemptions accepted)
  • COVID vaccination required (exemptions NOT accepted; booster preferred)

Work Hours & Scheduling

• Guaranteed Hours:

  • 36 hours for 3 shifts (12-hour shifts)
  • 48 hours for 4 shifts (12-hour shifts)
  • 40 hours for shifts less than 12 hours (8- or 10-hour shifts)

Facility & Work Environment

• Facility Type: Children's hospital
• Total Staffed Beds: 62
• Scrub Color: Any color, neat and clean; pediatric-themed encouraged
• Charting System: Meditech
• Parking: Free parking available in shared public lots

Background & Compliance Requirements

• 7-year comprehensive background check including:

  • SS Trace, SSN Verification
  • County, Statewide, Nationwide searches
  • Sex Offender Registry (IL and nationwide)
  • Education verification
  • IL Abuse Registry Search
• Annual checks: EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG
• Illinois-specific searches:

  • Nurses Aide Registry
  • Sex Offender Register
  • Child Abuse/Neglect (IL CANT Screening) - authorization form required; results may be pending at start
• Drug Screen: Required within 30 days prior to start, covering a broad panel of substances
• Physical Exam: Within 1 year of start date
• Immunizations and Titers:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (within 10 years)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (two vaccinations or positive titer; boosters and declinations as applicable)
  • Hepatitis B vaccination series or positive titer (new series or declination if low/negative)
  • Varicella (positive titer or proof of 2 vaccines)

Additional Notes

• This is a unique inpatient unit with a diverse pediatric population requiring specialized skills in technology-dependent care.
• Prior travel experience is required; first-time travelers will not be accepted.
• Illinois RN license must be active and in hand at time of application; allow up to 3 months for issuance.
• Flu vaccine is mandatory during flu season; medical and religious exemptions accepted.
• COVID vaccination is mandatory with no exemptions accepted.

This position is ideal for experienced pediatric stepdown nurses with PICU background who are comfortable working with medically complex children requiring ventilators, tracheostomies, and G tubes in a fast-paced acute care environment.