Pediatric Stepdown RN
Chicago, Illinois
La Rabida Children's Hospital

Job Opportunity: Pediatric Stepdown Registered Nurse (RN)

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

Position Overview

• Specialty: Pediatric Stepdown RN (PICU experience preferred)
• Unit: Inpatient unit with 39 beds, caring for patients aged 2 weeks to 18 years
• Patient Population: 50-60% technology dependent (ventilators, tracheostomies, G tubes)
• Acute care unit 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 within scope to meet facility needs is required
• Weekend shifts required every other weekend
• Block scheduling accommodations available

Required Qualifications

• Licensure:

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

  • Minimum 2 years of RN experience (highest required years of experience)
  • PICU experience preferred
  • Ventilator, tracheostomy, and G tube experience required
  • 1:4 ratio experience required
• Certifications:

  • BCLS (Basic Life Support) - Required
  • PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) - Required
  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - Preferred, not required
• Other Requirements:

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

Work Schedule & Hours

• Guaranteed hours:

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

Facility & Work Environment

• Children's hospital setting
• Total staffed beds: 62
• Charting system: Meditech
• Scrub color: Any neat and clean color; pediatric-themed encouraged
• Free parking available

Background & Compliance Requirements

• 7-year background check including: SS trace, SSN verification, county/statewide/nationwide searches, sex offender registry, education verification, IL abuse registry search
• Annual EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• Social Security verification prior to start
• Illinois-specific searches: Nurses Aide Registry, Sex Offender Register, Child Abuse/Neglect (CANT) screening (authorization form required; results can be pending at start)
• Drug screen within 30 days prior to start (comprehensive panel including amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, opiates, oxycodone, PCP)

Health & Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap vaccine within past 10 years
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year (2-step PPD, Qgold/TSPOT, or clear chest X-ray)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella: Two vaccinations or positive titer; low titers require booster and declination form
• Hepatitis B vaccination series or positive titer (low/negative titers require new series or declination)
• Varicella: Positive titer or proof of 2 vaccines
• Seasonal flu vaccination required during flu season (September-April); declinations NOT accepted
• COVID vaccination required; exemptions NOT accepted; booster preferred

Additional Notes

• First-time travelers NOT accepted
• Locals accepted at same rate as travelers
• Pending license accepted with approval
• Return to Origin (RTO) restrictions apply; must be approved and included in contract prior to start date; no additions after contract start
• On-call not required

This position is ideal for experienced pediatric stepdown RNs with strong skills in caring for technology-dependent children in an acute care setting.