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

Registered Nurse - Pediatric Stepdown (Travel/Contract)

Location: Chicago, Illinois
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
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:3-4 (1:4 ratio experience required)
• Floating within scope to meet facility needs required
• Weekend shifts required every other weekend
• Block scheduling accommodations available
• Locals accepted at same rate as travelers

Requirements

• Licensure:

  • Valid Illinois RN license required at time of submission (compact licenses not accepted)
  • Pending license accepted but must have active IL RN license before starting
• Experience:

  • Minimum 2 years of RN experience required
  • PICU experience preferred
  • Prior travel experience not required
• Certifications:

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

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

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

Work 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 Highlights

• Type: Children's hospital
• Total staffed beds: 62
• Scrub color: Any neat and clean color; pediatric-themed encouraged
• Charting system: Meditech
• Parking: Free parking available in shared public lots

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License/State ID)
• Emergency contact form prior to start
• 7-year background check including SSN verification, county/statewide/nationwide searches, sex offender registry, education verification, and abuse registry search
• Annual EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• Social Security verification prior to start
• Illinois-specific checks: Nurses Aide Registry, Sex Offender Register, Child Abuse/Neglect Search (IL CANT Screening)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Immunizations/vaccinations: Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (within 10 years), Rubeola, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella (vaccines or positive titers)
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year
• Drug screen within 30 days prior to start (comprehensive panel including amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, opiates, oxycodone, PCP)
• Flu vaccination required during flu season (September-April), no declinations accepted
• COVID vaccination required, no exemptions accepted
• Competency exams and medication/pharmacology tests as applicable
• Skills checklist required annually
• Facility-specific orientation and acknowledgment forms required

Additional Notes

• This is a unique inpatient unit with a diverse pediatric population requiring specialized skills in technology-dependent care.
• Candidates must be prepared for a fast-paced environment with a focus on chronic illness management in children.