Cardiac Stepdown | Registered Nurse

Travel Registered Nurse (RN) – Cardiac Stepdown / Progressive Care | Night Shift

Join a high-acuity cardiac stepdown team as a Travel Registered Nurse in Madison, Wisconsin. This 13-week travel nursing assignment offers the opportunity to care for complex cardiovascular and vascular surgery patients in a collaborative, patient- and family-focused environment within a 15-bed Heart & Vascular intermediate care unit at a Level I trauma center.

Madison is a vibrant Midwestern city known for its welcoming community, beautiful lakes, extensive parks and trails, and excellent cultural and dining options. This Wisconsin travel nurse job offers an outstanding balance of professional opportunity and quality of life for traveling clinicians.

Travel Nursing Job Details

• Position: Travel Registered Nurse (RN) – Cardiac Stepdown / Progressive Care
• Specialty: Cardiac Stepdown / Intermediate Care / Telemetry
• Employment Type: 13-week travel nursing assignment
• Location: Madison, Wisconsin
• Start Date: November 30, 2026
• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,250–$2,370
• Schedule: 3 shifts per week, 36 hours per week
• Shift Duration: 12-hour night shifts, approximately 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.
• Scheduling: Every other weekend and some holidays required; 4x12-hour schedules and weekend block scheduling may be available
• Patient Population: Adults and geriatric patients
• Patient Ratio: Approximately 1:4
• Unit Profile: 15-bed cardiac and vascular intermediate care unit with an average daily census of approximately 15
• Orientation: 36 hours
• Additional Expectations: Travelers may be required to float as needed. Applicants must reside more than 50 miles from the assignment location.

Travel RN Job Requirements

• Active Wisconsin RN license or compact RN license
• At least 2 years of acute care RN experience within the last 3 years, preferably in cardiac stepdown, progressive care, intermediate care, or medical-surgical/telemetry nursing
• Recent medical-surgical and telemetry nursing experience required
• Current BLS and ACLS certifications from the American Heart Association
• Epic electronic health record charting experience required
• Trauma Level II experience required; Trauma Level I experience preferred
• Strong telemetry interpretation skills and the ability to recognize and respond to dysrhythmias
• Successful completion of a pre-start telemetry assessment may be required, including identification of lethal rhythms and recognition of third-degree heart blocks
• Comfort managing a high-acuity patient population and collaborating with interdisciplinary care teams

Cardiac Stepdown RN Responsibilities

• Provide safe, evidence-based nursing care for cardiac surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology stepdown patients
• Care for patients recovering from abdominal and thoracic aneurysm repairs, carotid endarterectomies, lower-extremity bypasses, limb-saving lytic therapies, amputations, and other complex procedures
• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments, monitor for clinical deterioration, and initiate appropriate interventions
• Interpret telemetry and manage dysrhythmias, including timely escalation through rapid response and code team processes
• Manage chest tubes, temporary external pacing wires, feeding tubes, PCAs, surgical drains, and wound care or wound vacs
• Administer and titrate heparin, insulin, and vasoactive infusions according to established protocols
• Manage arterial lines, central lines, PICC lines, peripheral IVs, oxygen therapy, high-flow nasal cannula, BiPAP/CPAP, and other advanced monitoring or support equipment
• Interpret arterial blood gases and monitor patient response to treatment
• Administer blood products and medications safely while maintaining accurate documentation in Epic
• Partner with patients, families, physicians, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, rehabilitation, rapid response teams, and other interdisciplinary services to coordinate care
• Contribute to shared governance, quality improvement initiatives, and a supportive team culture focused on excellent patient outcomes

Apply now for this Travel Registered Nurse opportunity and join a high-acuity cardiac stepdown team in Madison, Wisconsin.

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.