Job Title: Registered Nurse
Profession: RN (Registered Nurse)
Specialty: Surgical Acute - Medical Surgical
Duration: 13 weeks
Shift: 12-hour Nights
Hours per Shift: 12
Experience: Minimum of 1 year
License: Active Illinois license or confirmation of application process
Certifications: BLS (American Heart Association)
Must-Have:
Post-operative care experience
Critical thinking skills
Good bedside manner
Ability to work as a team player
Description:
The position involves working in a Surgical Acute unit with 63 beds, including private and observation beds.
Patient-to-nurse ratios are 4-5 RN during days and 5-6 RN during nights, with the potential for higher ratios if necessary.
Common diagnoses include post-operative surgical cases, trauma, overflow medical patients, wound care, IV therapy, pain management, and drains.
RNs are not required to titrate drips, with heparin being the only common titratable drip.
Charge nurses do not take patient assignments.
A house supervisor is available 24/7.
There are patient care techs present, assisting with vital signs, activities of daily living, and patient mobility.
RNs are responsible for managing inhalers and can place patients on CPAP, while respiratory therapy manages nebulizers.
Telemetry patients are monitored with support from dedicated monitoring techs.
Shifts are from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM for days and 7:30 PM to 7:30 AM for nights.
Every other weekend and holiday shifts are required.
Travelers may float to units with the same level of experience, with clear guidelines.
Scrubs may be worn in any color.
Unit-specific orientation includes shadowing a preceptor and training on the electronic charting system.