We are seeking an experienced critical care Registered Nurse (RN) to join the dedicated team on our fast-paced CVCT ICU at the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!
Posted Sep 24 · “Six (6) months nursing experience or current participant in UW Health’s Nurse Residency Program with successful completion of the Nurse Residency Orientation on unit/similar unit Required” from the posting
Shift and hours
8/12-hour · Evening/night shift primarily 7:00 pm - 7:30 am 90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift primarily to be 7:00 pm - 7:30 am Friday - Sunday.36 hours a week
Unit and setting
Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery unit · Hospital Adult ICU and intermediate acuity cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgery patients
License
RN license Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Upon Hire RequiredLicensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or compact license
Term
Permanent 90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift primarily to be 7:00 pm - 7:30 am Friday - Sunday.90% FTE
Do you qualify?
License
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or compact licenseLicensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Upon Hire RequiredCheck your license
Certification
CPR/BLS certificationCurrent CPR/BLS Certification Upon Hire Required
Experience
Six (6) months nursing experience or current participant in UW Health's Nurse Residency Program with successful completion of orientation
Top of Madison staff RN payMadison staff RN postings that state pay run $39/hr to $40/hr, the middle half $40/hr to $40/hr, across 213 postings.
Shift differential
+$4/hr
Extra pay
$4/hour evening differentialAdditional components of compensation include impressive shift differentials - $4/hour evening, $5/hour night and $10/hour weekender differential as applicable for hours worked.as applicable for hours worked
Extra pay
$5/hour night differentialas applicable for hours worked
Extra pay
$10/hour weekender differentialas applicable for hours worked
Bonus
Referral bonusThe opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions
Eligibility
Tuition benefits eligibility on day one of employment
Benefits
BenefitsHealth and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistanceAn excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
BenefitsFull time benefits for part time work (positions 60% FTE and higher)Full time benefits for part time work (for positions 60% FTE and higher).
BenefitsEmployee Wellbeing Department resources supporting emotional, financial, and physical well-beingAccess to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
BenefitsTuition benefits helping pay for coursework associated with career advancementTuition benefits eligibility on day one of employment - UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement.
health and dental insurance
paid time off
More benefits (5)
retirement plans
two-week paid parental leave
adoption assistance
Employee Wellbeing Department
tuition benefits eligibility on day one
The role and schedule
Day to day
Provide specialized care to adult ICU and intermediate acuity patients
Day to day
Deliver personalized care meeting patient and family needsDeliver personalized care with a mixture of technological expertise and a positive commitment to meeting patient and family needs.
Day to day
Care for patients requiring cardiac and thoracic surgeries, heart/lung transplants, ECMO, and cardiovascular diagnoses
Unit size
27-bed
Hours stated
7:00 pm - 7:30 am Friday - Sunday
Weekends
Friday - Sunday90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift primarily to be 7:00 pm - 7:30 am Friday - Sunday.
Holidays
Must work holidays falling on scheduled weekend shifts per weekender guidelinesMust work holidays that fall on scheduled weekend shifts per weekender guidelines.
Details
Magnet-designated facility
Support on this unit
Nurse to patient
Acuity based staffing ratiosAcuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety .
90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift primarily to be 7:00 pm - 7:30 am Friday - Sunday. Must work holidays that fall on scheduled weekend shifts per weekender guidelines. You will work at University Hospital in Madison, WI.
Pay
Additional components of compensation include impressive
shift differentials - $4/hour evening, $5/hour night and $10/hour weekender differential as applicable for hours worked.
Are you ready to advance your nursing career within critical care?
We are seeking an experienced critical care Registered Nurse (RN) to join the dedicated team on our fast-paced CVCT ICU at the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!
About the unit
Provide safe, high quality specialized care to adult patients on this 27-bed Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery unit , caring for primarily ICU as well as intermediate levels of acuity.
Deliver personalized care with a mixture of technological expertise and a positive commitment to meeting patient and family needs.
As part of the supportive interdisciplinary team, gain experience and competence in caring for patients that require cardiac and thoracic surgeries and procedures, heart and/or lung transplants, medical devices such as ECMO and those with a variety of cardiovascular medical diagnoses.
At UW Health, you will have
An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Full time benefits for part time work (for positions 60% FTE and higher).
Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety .
A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.
Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.
A place where nursing excellence is recognized and celebrated in our inpatient and outpatient settings through several award programs.
Tuition benefits eligibility on day one of employment - UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement.
The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Preferred
Work Experience
Six (6) months nursing experience or current participant in UW Health’s Nurse Residency Program with successful completion of the Nurse Residency Orientation on unit/similar unit Required
Relevant RN Experience Preferred
Licenses & Certifications
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Upon Hire Required
Current CPR/BLS Certification Upon Hire Required
ACLS within 6 months Required
Relevant certification Preferred
Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging
UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
University Hospital in Madison is a Magnet®-designated facility that’s ranked Wisconsin's #1 hospital and considered one of the nation's leading hospitals, teaching institutions and referral centers.
Neighborhoods+Recent grads and young professionals on Reddit often look at East Washington Avenue and blocks right by the Capitol, plus East Side pockets that stay cheaper than the near-east even as they gentrify; Sun Prairie comes up as a cheaper bedroom-community commute. Extra Space’s 2026 roundup flags Hill Farms-University as the in-city budget option (median home $274,000, median rent $708), Marquette for historic charm and lakeside recreation ($298,833 / $1,186), Vilas near UW–Madison ($393,950 / $1,475), and Dudgeon-Monroe as a tree-lined mix of families and young pros with more than a mile and a half of Monroe Street shops ($423,567 / $1,287). Families are frequently pointed toward suburbs Verona, Middleton, and Waunakee.
Recent grads and young professionals on Reddit often look at East Washington Avenue and blocks right by the Capitol, plus East Side pockets that stay cheaper than the near-east even as they gentrify; Sun Prairie comes up as a cheaper bedroom-community commute. Extra Space’s 2026 roundup flags Hill Farms-University as the in-city budget option (median home $274,000, median rent $708), Marquette for historic charm and lakeside recreation ($298,833 / $1,186), Vilas near UW–Madison ($393,950 / $1,475), and Dudgeon-Monroe as a tree-lined mix of families and young pros with more than a mile and a half of Monroe Street shops ($423,567 / $1,287).
Families are frequently pointed toward suburbs Verona, Middleton, and Waunakee.
Getting around+U.S. News puts the typical Madison commute at about 18.31 minutes. Metro Transit’s Rapid Route A BRT runs east-west from the Sun Prairie Park and Ride to Junction Road with 15-minute weekday service until 8:00 p.m. and 15-minute Saturday service until 7:00 p.m.; Routes B and F also board along that corridor, so a home near a BRT station can feel closer than the map suggests. Redfin scores transit 35/100 and flags limited, inconsistent buses especially in the suburbs, so most nurses will still want a car. The west side holds about 33,000 residents and more than 23,000 jobs concentrated around University Research Park; UW Hospital and Clinics is the named major healthcare hub. Hospital parking and shift-specific routes are not covered in these sources.
U.S. News puts the typical Madison commute at about 18.31 minutes. Metro Transit’s Rapid Route A BRT runs east-west from the Sun Prairie Park and Ride to Junction Road with 15-minute weekday service until 8:00 p.m. and 15-minute Saturday service until 7:00 p.m.; Routes B and F also board along that corridor, so a home near a BRT station can feel closer than the map suggests.
Redfin scores transit 35/100 and flags limited, inconsistent buses especially in the suburbs, so most nurses will still want a car. The west side holds about 33,000 residents and more than 23,000 jobs concentrated around University Research Park; UW Hospital and Clinics is the named major healthcare hub.
Hospital parking and shift-specific routes are not covered in these sources.
Outdoors+Madison sits between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona among five area lakes, with 307 parks, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails including the Capital City State Trail. Named greenspaces include Olbrich Park and Hillington Green Park in Dudgeon-Monroe; residents kayak, fish, boat, and paddleboard the lakes, and state parks sit within about an hour’s drive. Winters shut down much of this, but summers turn the lakes, beer gardens, and trail network into daily life rather than weekend trips.
Madison sits between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona among five area lakes, with 307 parks, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails including the Capital City State Trail. Named greenspaces include Olbrich Park and Hillington Green Park in Dudgeon-Monroe; residents kayak, fish, boat, and paddleboard the lakes, and state parks sit within about an hour’s drive.
Winters shut down much of this, but summers turn the lakes, beer gardens, and trail network into daily life rather than weekend trips.
Check the commute at your shift’s start and end, upfront housing costs, and whether moving assistance must be repaid if you leave.
Living in Madison
Madison is a mid-size capital and Big Ten town squeezed between Lakes Mendota and Monona, with 307 parks, 200-plus miles of trails, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Capitol Square. Nurses get UW Hospital and Clinics plus west-side jobs at University Research Park; typical commute is about 18 minutes, but Rapid Route A is the only frequent BRT spine and Transit Score is 35, so most still drive. Young professionals land on the East Side, East Wash, and near the Capitol; Hill Farms-University is the budget in-city option, Dudgeon-Monroe and Vilas cost more near Monroe Street and campus. Food is a genuine draw—The Old Fashioned, Graze, State Street Brats, Olbrich Biergarten, and a thick brewery circuit. Locals are blunt about tradeoffs: winters can run November through March, listings hit about $486k in 2026, diversity is limited, and this is not a big city. If you bike, boat, and can handle a long winter, daily quality of life is the pitch.
