Nursing Jobs in Illinois
Nursing jobs in Illinois are consistently in demand across a robust market anchored by large academic medical centers, community hospital systems, and growing outpatient and long-term care networks, with openings at every level from new graduate to seasoned clinical specialist. Chicago drives the highest volume of hiring, supported by major systems like Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health, and the University of Chicago Medicine, while secondary markets such as Peoria and Rockford also post steady openings. The most sought-after specialties right now are critical care, labor and delivery, and perioperative nursing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 132+ Nursing jobs
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Business Unit: Rush Medical Group
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: RUMG Admin Operation
Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)
Shift: Shift 1
Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 4:30:00 PM)
Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).
Pay Range: $47.09 - $84.29 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.
Summary:
Reporting to the AVP Ambulatory Nursing , the Nursing Professional Development Specialist provides clinical and nursing expertise to support the provision of high quality, safe patient care in the Rush Medical Group(RMG). This role involves assessing, developing, and implementing clinical competency assessments and continuing education programs, fostering evidence-based practice, and collaborating with leadership to address patient care and staff performance issues. The Nursing Professional Development Specialist helps to ensure staff competence, promotes leadership development, and upholds RMG's mission, vision, and values.
Job Requirements
- Current State of Illinois registered nurse license.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher.
- Certification as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist within two years of hire.
- Maintain current basic life support (BLS) certification.
- A minimum of three years of registered nurse experience with at least one year of ambulatory experience.
- Formal rounding and on-site presence within the dedicated region is required at least 75% of the time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Quality experience
- Master’s degree preferred
- Analytical ability
- Communication skills are required to lead and teach
Responsibilities
Evidence-Based Intervention
- Leverages the Association of Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) principles, the NPDS serves as a change agent, collaborator, facilitator, leader, and researcher. By applying advanced nursing knowledge, the NPDS delivers evidence-based nursing and education interventions through a rigorous educational design process, addressing identified knowledge, skill, and practice gaps.
- Fosters a culture of inquiry by promoting the generation and dissemination of new knowledge. The NPDS champions the use of evidence to guide clinical practice, improve patient care, and inspire lifelong learning. The NPDS models best practices for creating and sustaining positive learning and practice environments.
Relationships and Caring
- Identifies and validates practice gaps, determining specific knowledge, skill, or practice deficits. Prioritizes macro-level needs and investigates relevant trends and data.
- Applies systems thinking to planning processes. Fosters interprofessional collaboration for quality improvement and organizational excellence initiatives, coordinating integrated educational services.
Critical Thinking and Technical Expertise
- Analyzes patient care data and performance metrics to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and implement evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes and efficiency.
- Develops context-specific outcomes aligned with stakeholder and learner needs, current evidence, and regulations. Plans and implements strategies, leveraging learning and behavioral change theories to design effective educational materials and programs.
Leadership
- Analyzes cost and anticipated return on investment for learning activities, programs, and projects.
- Demonstrates accountability for own professional practice, including progress toward achievement of annual goals.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Business Unit: Rush Medical Group
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: RUMG Admin Operation
Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)
Shift: Shift 1
Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 4:30:00 PM)
Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).
Pay Range: $47.09 - $84.29 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.
Summary:
Reporting to the AVP Ambulatory Nursing , the Nursing Professional Development Specialist provides clinical and nursing expertise to support the provision of high quality, safe patient care in the Rush Medical Group(RMG). This role involves assessing, developing, and implementing clinical competency assessments and continuing education programs, fostering evidence-based practice, and collaborating with leadership to address patient care and staff performance issues. The Nursing Professional Development Specialist helps to ensure staff competence, promotes leadership development, and upholds RMG's mission, vision, and values.
Job Requirements
- Current State of Illinois registered nurse license.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher.
- Certification as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist within two years of hire.
- Maintain current basic life support (BLS) certification.
- A minimum of three years of registered nurse experience with at least one year of ambulatory experience.
- Formal rounding and on-site presence within the dedicated region is required at least 75% of the time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Quality experience
- Master’s degree preferred
- Analytical ability
- Communication skills are required to lead and teach
Responsibilities
Evidence-Based Intervention
- Leverages the Association of Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) principles, the NPDS serves as a change agent, collaborator, facilitator, leader, and researcher. By applying advanced nursing knowledge, the NPDS delivers evidence-based nursing and education interventions through a rigorous educational design process, addressing identified knowledge, skill, and practice gaps.
- Fosters a culture of inquiry by promoting the generation and dissemination of new knowledge. The NPDS champions the use of evidence to guide clinical practice, improve patient care, and inspire lifelong learning. The NPDS models best practices for creating and sustaining positive learning and practice environments.
Relationships and Caring
- Identifies and validates practice gaps, determining specific knowledge, skill, or practice deficits. Prioritizes macro-level needs and investigates relevant trends and data.
- Applies systems thinking to planning processes. Fosters interprofessional collaboration for quality improvement and organizational excellence initiatives, coordinating integrated educational services.
Critical Thinking and Technical Expertise
- Analyzes patient care data and performance metrics to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and implement evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes and efficiency.
- Develops context-specific outcomes aligned with stakeholder and learner needs, current evidence, and regulations. Plans and implements strategies, leveraging learning and behavioral change theories to design effective educational materials and programs.
Leadership
- Analyzes cost and anticipated return on investment for learning activities, programs, and projects.
- Demonstrates accountability for own professional practice, including progress toward achievement of annual goals.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
See All 132+ Nursing Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Nursing JobsNursing Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Nursing Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Advocate Aurora Health13
- Elevate Care8
- Gardant Management Solutions7
- Arcadia LTC5
- Maxim Healthcare4
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in nursing jobs across Illinois.
- Active Registered Nurse license issued or recognized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Associate degree in nursing required, bachelor of science in nursing preferred by most Illinois hospital systems
- Current BLS certification required, ACLS or PALS required for critical care and emergency roles
- Minimum one to two years of clinical experience required for most specialty and acute care positions
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner used across Illinois health systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating care within interdisciplinary Illinois hospital teams
Nursing Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a nursing in Illinois?
To practice as a registered nurse in Illinois, you must earn an associate or bachelor of science in nursing from an accredited program, then pass the NCLEX-RN examination. Licensure is issued and maintained through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Nurses licensed in another state may apply for endorsement rather than retaking the exam. Illinois is not currently part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a separate Illinois license is required.
How much do nursings make in Illinois?
Nursings in Illinois earn a median of about $45,960 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $37,590 for the lowest 10% to over $54,050 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire nursings in Illinois?
Employers hiring nursings in Illinois right now include Advocate Aurora Health, Elevate Care, and Gardant Management Solutions, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois is home to several large integrated health systems with facilities in Chicago and across the state, making it one of the more active markets for sustained, full-time nursing openings.
Which Illinois cities have the most nursing jobs?
Chicago, Park Ridge, and Downers Grove are the Illinois cities with the most nursing openings. Chicago leads because it houses the greatest concentration of academic medical centers, trauma hospitals, and specialty care facilities in the state, while cities like Peoria and Rockford follow because of anchor regional hospital systems such as OSF HealthCare and Mercyhealth that drive local hiring.
Are there remote nursing jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they are rare. Bedside and clinical nursing is inherently on-site work, so fully remote roles represent a small share of the overall market. About 0% of nursing openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to cluster in utilization review, case management, telephone triage, and health insurance roles rather than direct patient care.
How can I get hired as a nursing in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is applying directly to new graduate residency programs, which many large Illinois health systems run specifically for nurses with no post-graduation experience. Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health, and UChicago Medicine each offer structured residency tracks in med-surg, ICU, and labor and delivery. Earning your Illinois RN license before applications open is essential, and completing clinical rotations at the system you are targeting can significantly improve your odds.
Where can I find and apply to nursing jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to nursing jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across the state right now. Search the listings, find roles that match your specialty, experience level, and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 132+ Nursing Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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