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

Pediatric Stepdown Registered Nurse (Travel/Contract)

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Overview

• Work on a unique inpatient pediatric stepdown unit with 39 beds, caring for patients aged 2 weeks to 18 years.
• Patient population includes multiple specialties; 50-60% have technology dependence (e.g., ventilators, tracheostomies, G tubes).
• Acute care unit for children with chronic illnesses; no drips or surgical patients.
• Shift options: 3x12-hour or 4x12-hour shifts (night shift example: 7 PM to 7 AM).
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:3 to 1:4.
• Weekend work required every other weekend.
• Floating within scope of practice to meet facility needs.
• Locals accepted at the same rate as travelers.

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Illinois (compact licenses not accepted)
• Minimum 2 years of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience, with at least 1 year within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) / Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Bystander Intervention Training Certificate
• Experience with ventilators, tracheostomies, and gastrostomy (G) tubes
• Experience working with MEDITECH electronic charting system

Schedule & Hours

• Guaranteed hours:

  • 36 hours for 3x12-hour shifts
  • 48 hours for 4x12-hour shifts
  • 40 hours for shifts less than 12 hours (8- or 10-hour shifts)
• Weekend shifts scheduled every other weekend.

Additional Requirements & Notes

• On-call not required.
• Requests for time off (RTO) must be approved and included in the contract before the start date; no additions after contract start.
• Free parking available.
• Scrub color: any neat and clean color; pediatric-themed scrubs encouraged.

Compliance & Documentation

• Background checks required prior to start, including:

  • 7-year work and education history
  • Statewide and nationwide sex offender searches
  • Illinois-specific abuse registry and child abuse/neglect tracking system (CANT) search
• Drug screen required within 30 days prior to start (comprehensive panel including amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, etc.).
• Physical exam within 1 year of start date.
• Immunizations/vaccinations required or proof of immunity:

  • 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
  • Varicella (positive titer or proof of two vaccines)
• Annual competency exams and medication/pharmacology competency testing required.
• Facility-specific orientation and HIPAA training required before start.
• References: 2 professional references for acute care travel or allied roles within 3 years.

Important Notes

• First-time travel nurses are not accepted for this position.
• Pending Illinois RN licenses are accepted for submission but must be active before start.
• Flu vaccine exemptions accepted only for medical or religious reasons; COVID vaccine exemptions are not accepted.
• The unit cares for medically complex pediatric patients requiring specialized skills and experience.

This position is ideal for experienced pediatric RNs with technology-dependent patient care skills seeking a travel contract in a specialized pediatric stepdown setting.