Registered Nurse - Stepdown / Critical Care

SSM Health; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SSM Health’s St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, seeks an experienced nurse to provide direct nursing care in a setting requiring complex assessments and interventions. The role supports a Neuro/Trauma department with structured policies and protocols.

The position is full-time, 36 hours per week, with rotating shifts and every 3rd weekend. You’ll work closely with clinical teams to deliver high-quality patient care and maintain a safe environment in a demanding care setting.

Qualifications

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing.
• No experience required.

Responsibilities

• Obtains comprehensive data from patient, family and other providers to form a holistic view of needs.
• Analyzes data to determine diagnoses or conditions relevant to care.
• Identifies optimal outcomes with patient, family and interprofessional team.
• Develops a plan with strategies to attain outcomes in collaboration with patient and team.
• Implements the plan to ensure safety and coordinate care with the team.
• Evaluates progress toward goals and maintains knowledge and competence.

Skills

Attention to detail

Compassion

Team collaboration

Education

Graduate of accredited nursing school

Job description

It's more than a career, it's a calling

WI-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison

Worker Type

Regular

Job Highlights

Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. In this role, you will provide hands‑on support in a fast‑paced care environment where every shift makes a direct impact on patients and families. Your attention to detail, compassion, and ability to work closely with clinical teams will help create a safer, smoother care experience. If you enjoy interacting with patients and want to grow in a collaborative care setting, this role is perfect for you.

Department

Neuro / Trauma

Schedule

Full-Time, 36 hours per week, Rotating Shifts, Every 3rd Weekend

SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday.

Job Summary

Provides direct nursing care in settings where patients require complex assessments and intervention, in accordance with established policies, procedures and protocols of the healthcare organization.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements

Primary Responsibilities

• Obtains comprehensive data pertinent to the patient from the patient, family other healthcare providers to develop a holistic picture of the patient’s needs or condition.
• Analyzes and synthesizes data from the assessment in determining diagnosis or conditions relevant to care.
• Identifies optimal outcomes for the patient in collaboration with the patient, family and interprofessional team.
• Develops a plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain outcomes, using clinical judgement in collaboration with patient, family and interprofessional care team.
• Implements the plan, employing strategies to promote and maintain a safe environment, coordinates implementation with patient, family and interprofessional team.
• Evaluates processes and progress toward attainment of goals and outcomes.
• Contributes to the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice, evaluates their own practice, and maintains current knowledge and competence.
• Communicates effectively in all areas of practice, collaborates with patient, family and interprofessional team.
• Uses clinical inquiry and integrates best evidence into practice.
• Applies the existing body of evidence‑based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to critical care nursing practice, ensuring that nursing care is delivered based on patient’s age‑specific needs and clinical needs as described in the department’s Scope of Service.
• Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing

Experience

• No experience required

Physical Requirements

• Constant use of speech to share information through oral communication.
• Constant standing and walking.
• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent sitting, reaching and keyboard use/data entry.
• Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Frequent use of smell to detect/recognize odors.
• Frequent use of hearing to receive oral communication, distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
• Occasional lifting/moving of patients.
• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting, gripping and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Occasional driving.
• Rare crawling and running.

Required Professional License And/Or Certifications

State of Work Location: Illinois

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• And
• Registered Professional Nurse (RN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
• And
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP)
• Or
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

State of Work Location: Missouri

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• And
• Registered Nurse (RN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
• Or
• Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State
• And
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP)
• Or
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

State of Work Location: Oklahoma

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• And
• Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State
• And
• Registered Nurse (RN) - Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN)
• And
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP)
• Or
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

State of Work Location: Wisconsin

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• And
• Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State
• Or
• Registered Nurse (RN) - Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• And
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP)
• Or
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) - Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Work Shift

Rotating Shift (United States of America)

Job Type

Employee

Department

1006000007 Neuroscience Center (7SW)

Scheduled Weekly Hours

36

Equal Opportunity Statement

SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.