RN - Surgical / Trauma ICU
Madison, Wisconsin
You'll care for some of the most complex, critically ill adults in a newly designed surgical/trauma ICU.
Posted Nov 2 · New grads welcomed
- Shift and hours
- 8- or 12-hour evening/night shifts, 3:00 pm to 7:30 am · Evening and night shifts 90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift between the hours of 3:00 pm - 7:30 am
- Unit and setting
- Surgical/Trauma ICU on C2/4
- 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 RequiredWI RN license, or RN license from a nurse licensure compact state, upon hire
- Term
- Permanent 90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift0.9 FTE
Do you qualify?
- New grads
- Welcomed, residency program
- License
- WI RN license, or RN license from a nurse licensure compact state, upon hire 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 Check your license
- Certification
- Current CPR/BLS upon hire Current CPR/BLS Certification Upon Hire Required
- Experience
- 6 months nursing experience or Nurse Residency Program participation Six (6) months nursing experience
Preferred
- Certification
- Relevant certification Relevant certification Preferred
- Education
- BSN Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Preferred
- Experience
- Relevant RN experience Relevant RN Experience Preferred
Your six-month RN application plan
Start about six months before graduation. Some programs open earlier; use each employer’s application dates. See program calendars.
6 months before
Shortlist units
Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.
Find residencies →4–6 months before
Apply as windows open
Apply before graduation when the program allows it. Keep the cohort date and license deadline with each application.
Explore new grad jobs →2–3 months before
Meet the unit manager
Ask about overtime, a shadow shift, preceptor continuity and the schedule after orientation.
Prepare your questions →Around graduation
Confirm your start
Coordinate NCLEX, the required license and your start date. Get relocation and repayment terms in writing.
Plan your license →
What it pays
- Against similar roles
- Top of Madison staff RN payMadison staff RN postings that state pay run $38/hr to $44/hr, the middle half $40/hr to $40/hr, across 251 postings.
- Extra pay
- $4/hour evening differential $4/hour eveningas applicable for hours worked
- Extra pay
- $5/hour night differential $5/hour nightas applicable for hours worked
- Extra pay
- $4.25/hour weekend differential $4.25/hour weekend differentialas applicable for hours worked
- Eligibility
- Full-time benefits for part-time work Full time benefits for part time work (for positions 60% FTE and higher).for positions 60% FTE and higher
- Bonus
- Referral bonus The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions
Benefits
- BenefitsHealth and dental insurancehealth and dental insurance
- BenefitsPaid time offpaid time off
- BenefitsRetirement plansretirement plans
- BenefitsTwo-week paid parental leavetwo-week paid parental leave
- BenefitsAdoption assistanceadoption assistance
- BenefitsTuition benefits from day one of employmentTuition benefits eligibility on day one of employment
- BenefitsAccess to UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department resourcesAccess to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
The role and schedule
- Patients
- Trauma with multiple injuries, maternal fetal medicine, post-op liver transplant, aortic aneurysm repair, bowel obstruction
- Day to day
- Care for patients with EVDs, lumbar drains and Swan-Ganz catheters Specialized care for adult patients with EVDs, lumbar drains, and Swan-Ganz catheters.
- Unit size
- 16-bed STICU a state-of-the-art 16-bed STICU
- Weekends
- Every other weekend with an every other weekend rotation
- Holidays
- Holiday rotation required Holiday rotation required.
- Details
- Shared governance structure giving every nurse a voice A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
- Details
- Level I Trauma Center a leading Level I Trauma Center
- Details
- Magnet-designated hospital University Hospital in Madison is a Magnet®-designated facility
Support on this unit
- Nurse to patient
- Acuity-based staffing ratios Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety
- Orientation
- Residency program
The workplace
Your fit
Questions to ask
- What should I expect for weekly hours and call?
- What preceptor time and ongoing unit support are included?
- How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
On your path
ICU / Critical Care has an opening for new graduates. This employer welcomes new graduates for this role. See the posting’s qualifications and orientation details.
Original listing
Posted on UW Health’s careers page.
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Work Schedule
90% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift between the hours of 3:00 pm - 7:30 am with an every other weekend rotation. Holiday rotation required. 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 $4.25/hour weekend differential as applicable for hours worked.
Are you ready to elevate your critical care nursing career in a fast-paced, dynamic environment? Our upcoming newly designed Surgical / Trauma ICU will offer an exciting opportunity to care for some of the most complex and critically ill adult patients at University Hospital - a leading Level I Trauma Center and Wisconsin’s #1 hospital. We are seeking an experienced critical care Registered Nurse (RN) to join our dedicated team in a state-of-the-art 16-bed STICU that will begin to care for patients Spring 2027 on C2/4.
About the unit
Diverse patient population including trauma victims with multiple injuries, maternal fetal medicine, and high-acuity surgical patients to include post-op liver transplant recipients, thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs, and bowel obstruction cases. Specialized care for adult patients with EVDs, lumbar drains, and Swan-Ganz catheters. Fast-paced environment designed to provide cutting-edge and evidence based critical care in a newly constructed space with advanced technology and resources. Strong interdisciplinary collaboration fostering a supportive and positive work culture where teamwork drives exceptional patient outcomes.
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). Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance .
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.
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. Job Description UW Hospital and Clinics benefits
What's around it?
Madison, WIFrom Census ACS 2024.
Living costs about 3% below the US average
- Median rent
- $1,413/mo
- Household income
- $78,050/yr, all local households, not nurse pay