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Cardiac Stepdown | Registered Nurse

GHR HealthcareRockford, ILTravel
Agency
GHR Healthcare
Location
Rockford, IL
Job type
Travel
Profession
Registered Nurse (RN)
Industry
Nursing & Healthcare
Posted
Oct 14, 2026

Pay breakdown

Hourly
$60.83
Weekly
$2,190
Yearly (full-time)
$113,880
Contract length
13 weeks
Start date
October 26, 2026

This job pays about $60.83/hour — 32% above the median for Registered Nurse (RN) jobs in Illinois ($46.15/hour). The total includes tax-free housing and meal stipends, which staff jobs don't pay, so take-home pay is usually higher than the hourly figure suggests.

Estimated from the weekly pay in the listing, 36 hours a week; yearly = 52 weeks. Median wage: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Registered Nurse (RN) jobs in Illinois right now

  • 1,392 open Registered Nurse (RN) jobs in Illinois from 7 agencies, 144 of them in Rockford.
  • Pay in these listings: $9.66 – $99.07/hour, median $60.83/hour.
  • Typical Registered Nurse (RN) pay in Illinois: $46.15/hour ($95,992/year, BLS).
  • Highest median pay: AHS Staffing ($65.50/hour across 425 jobs).

All Registered Nurse (RN) jobs in Illinois →

Job description

Cardiac Stepdown Registered Nurse (RN) – 13-Week Travel Nursing Contract in Rockford, Illinois

Join an acute intermediate care team in Rockford, Illinois, as a Cardiac Stepdown Travel Registered Nurse. This travel nursing opportunity is ideal for an experienced RN who is confident caring for complex cardiac, neurologic, medical, and surgical patients in a 23-bed stepdown environment. Rockford offers a welcoming Midwestern setting with scenic riverfront recreation, parks, cultural attractions, and convenient access to outdoor activities.

Travel Nursing Job Details

  • Specialty: Cardiac Stepdown / Intermediate Care Registered Nurse
  • Location: Rockford, Illinois
  • Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,130–$2,250
  • Start Date: October 26, 2026
  • Contract Duration: 13 weeks, ending January 25, 2027
  • Schedule: 12-hour day shifts, approximately 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours per week
  • Unit: 23-bed Intermediate Care Unit with typical nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:3–4
  • Weekend Requirement: Weekend rotation based on unit needs
  • Holiday Requirement: Every other holiday
  • Call Requirement: None
  • Charting: Epic
  • Orientation: Approximately 1–2 shifts

Cardiac Stepdown RN Job Requirements

  • At least 1 year of recent Registered Nurse experience; cardiac stepdown, intermediate care, or critical care experience strongly preferred
  • Active Illinois RN license or confirmation that the application process has been initiated
  • Current BLS certification through the American Heart Association
  • Current ACLS certification through the American Heart Association
  • Current NIHSS certification through the American Heart Association
  • Demonstrated competency with cardiac monitoring, IV medication titration, tracheostomy care, BiPAP, CPAP, and high-flow oxygen
  • Ability to interpret cardiac rhythms and provide care for patients with complex medical and surgical conditions
  • Willingness to participate in unit-based weekend and holiday rotations
  • Ability to float throughout the hospital as needed, excluding emergency and obstetric departments

Cardiac Stepdown Registered Nurse Responsibilities

  • Provide comprehensive nursing care to patients with stroke, cardiac conditions, sepsis, and surgical diagnoses
  • Monitor and assess patients requiring intermediate-care services, escalating changes in condition promptly
  • Titrate and manage medications such as heparin, nitroglycerin, diltiazem, norepinephrine, nicardipine, and dexmedetomidine according to clinical protocols
  • Provide tracheostomy care and support patients using BiPAP, CPAP, high-flow oxygen, and related respiratory equipment
  • Interpret cardiac rhythms and collaborate with providers, respiratory therapists, patient care technicians, and other members of the care team
  • Administer medications, perform assessments, develop and update care plans, and document care accurately in Epic
  • Recognize and respond to changes in patient status while maintaining safe nurse-to-patient assignments
  • Collaborate with the charge nurse and interdisciplinary team to support quality outcomes and continuity of care

Apply now for this Cardiac Stepdown RN travel nursing opportunity in Rockford, Illinois.

Benefits

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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