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Step Down Unit Rn Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

HCS 247 Travel

Travel ICU Registered Nurse

Chapel Hill, NC

$1.73K - $2.37K/wk

Our clinical coverage includes Registered Nurse specialties such as ER, ICU, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Step-Down, OR, PACU, L&D, Mother/Baby, NICU, Cath Lab, Endoscopy, and more along with a full range of ...

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Step Down Unit Rn information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$37.9K

$70.4K

$99.2K

How much do step down unit rn jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for step down unit rn in Raleigh, NC is $70,379.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $67,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Step Down Unit RN, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Step Down Unit RN, you need strong clinical assessment skills, acute care experience, and an active RN license, often with ACLS certification. Familiarity with telemetry monitoring, electronic health records (EHRs), and advanced life support protocols is essential. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and resilience help you manage complex patient needs and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring patient safety and optimal outcomes in a high-acuity, fast-paced environment.

What are some common challenges faced by Step Down Unit RNs, and how can they be addressed?

Step Down Unit RNs often manage patients who are too ill for general medical-surgical floors but do not require intensive care, which means rapidly changing patient conditions can present significant challenges. Balancing a higher patient-to-nurse ratio than in the ICU while still providing vigilant monitoring requires strong organizational and prioritization skills. Effective communication with multidisciplinary teams and quick decision-making are essential to ensure patient safety. Many RNs find that actively seeking mentorship, participating in continuing education, and using available support resources can help manage these challenges and support professional growth.

What are Step Down Unit RNs?

Step Down Unit RNs are registered nurses who care for patients who require more attention than those on a general medical-surgical floor but are not critical enough for the intensive care unit (ICU). They monitor patients closely, administer medications, and respond quickly to changes in condition. Step Down Unit RNs often work with patients recovering from surgery, cardiac events, or severe illnesses, providing advanced monitoring and support to help them transition to lower levels of care.

Can you make $200,000 as a nurse?

Step Down Unit RNs typically earn between $70,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and shift differentials. Earning $200,000 usually requires working in high-paying regions, overtime, or holding specialized certifications, which can increase income significantly.

What is the difference between Step Down Unit Rn vs Medical-Surgical Nurse?

AspectStep Down Unit RnMedical-Surgical Nurse
CredentialsRN license, possibly CCRN or specialty certificationsRN license, often same certifications
Work EnvironmentIntermediate care units, closer patient monitoringGeneral hospital floors, broader patient care
Patient AcuityHigher acuity, more complex casesModerate acuity, routine cases
Job FocusMonitoring critical signs, managing unstable patientsProviding basic nursing care, patient education

The main difference between a Step Down Unit Rn and a Medical-Surgical Nurse lies in patient acuity and care complexity. Step Down Unit Rns handle higher acuity patients requiring closer monitoring, while Medical-Surgical Nurses care for patients with moderate needs. Both roles require an RN license and similar certifications, but the work environment and patient care focus differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Step Down Unit Rn jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Step Down Unit Rn jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Step Down Unit Rn jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Step Down Unit Rn jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
Step Down Unit Rn jobs near you
Infographic showing various Step Down Unit Rn job openings in Raleigh, NC as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 60% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,379 per year, or $33.8 per hour.
Registered Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care - Nights

Registered Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care - Nights

Duke Health

Raleigh, NC

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Duke Health rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 243 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

329th of 864 rated healthcare providers

Job description

$15,000 Commitment Bonus for nurses with 1+ years of experience!

Night Shift needed: 7pm to 7am with rotating weekends

Shift differentials apply!

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke Raleigh Hospital, A Campus of Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with the Duke Raleigh Campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. With 204-beds, it is the third largest of the four Duke Health hospitals and offers a comprehensive array of services, including cancer, cardiovascular, neuroscience, advanced gastrointestinal, and wound healing care.


Department Profile:

The Progressive Care Unit is a step down unit for ICU. The patient population on this unit includes patients with altered mental status, DKA, respiratory failure, post cardiac catheterization, and some post-surgery patients. This is a fast paced unit where nurses have the opportunity to learn advanced skills, such as management of drips including Cardizem, Heparin, and Insulin

General Description of the Job Class

Independently plan and provide professional nursing care for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level
  • Plan, provide, supervise and document professional nursing care utilizing the nursing process for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Use professional nursing judgment to individualize the plan of care based on assessment of the patient's baseline needs and response to care.
  • Delegate tasks and supervise the activities of other licensed and unlicensed care providers.
  • Assist other nursing personnel in the delivery of nursing care and act as team leader or charge nurse for a group of patients or an entire unit as assigned.
  • Monitor and initiate corrective action to maintain the environment of care including equipment and material resources.
  • Participate in own professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings.
  • Act as preceptor and support the development of other staff and formal learners.
  • Participate in the identification of clinical or operational performance improvement opportunities and in performance improvement activities.
  • Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
Required Qualifications at this LevelEducation:

Work requires graduation from an accredited BSN program.

Exception: Registered nurses hired between July 1, 2014 and April 11, 2021 without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) are encouraged to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date but must complete the program within seven years of their start date. Registered nurses hired before July 1, 2014 are not required to enroll in a BSN program to remain in this job classification.

Experience:
  • No experience required.
  • All CNIs will be enrolled in and must complete the DUHS Nurse Residency Program within 12 months of hire.
  • CNIs are required to meet criteria set forth by the DUHS Nurse Residency Program within 18 months of hire to be promoted to CNII.
Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:

Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina. BLS required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Knowledge of scope of the registered nurse, licensed practical nurse and unlicensed staff
  • Knowledge of and appropriate application of the nursing process
  • Knowledge of professional theory, practice and procedure
  • Ability to assess nursing needs of acute and chronically ill patients and their families
  • Ability to independently seek out resources and work collaboratively
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
  • Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership and others
  • Ability to teach patients and families in accordance with the nursing plan of care
  • Ability to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, treatment, and follow-up
  • Ability to use fine motor skills
  • Competent in BLS and/or other specialized life support requirements designated by work area
  • Ability to record activities, document assessments, plan of care, interventions, evaluation and re-evaluation of patient status
  • Ability to use computer and learn new software programs
  • Able to document and communicate pertinent information using computer and/or paper documentation tools
  • Ability to navigate the entity to provide clinical care for patients
  • Ability to withstand prolonged standing and walking.
  • Ability to remain focused and organized
  • Working knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in administering routine and special treatments to patients
  • Working knowledge of infection control procedures and safety precautions
  • Working knowledge and completion of appropriate The Joint Commission (TJC) and other regulatory requirements
  • Pre-employment Physical Capacity Testing Required


Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.


Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.


Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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