Intermediate/Stepdown Registered Nurse (RN)

General Information:

We are seeking a dedicated Intermediate/Stepdown Registered Nurse (RN) to join our clinical team. This unit features 64 beds spread across two floors.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 1 year of nursing experience required.
• First-time travelers are welcome, provided they have more than 1 year of experience.
• First-time travelers must possess EPIC experience.

Patient Care Types:

This is a mixed acuity unit, handling Intermediate Care, Telemetry, and MedSurg cases. Key patient types include:

• Surgical: Urology procedures, general abdominal surgeries (e.g., cholecystectomy, appendectomy).
• Orthopedic: Total joints (knees, hips, shoulders), trauma cases.
• Neuro/Spine: Care for post-operative patients, including those who have undergone coiling, clipping, and potentially thrombectomy.
• General Medical: Treatment of conditions such as cellulitis, pneumonia, CHF, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Patient Ratios:

• RN: 1:4 in Intermediate Care, adjustable to 3:1 based on acuity.
• CNA: 1:8

Required Certifications:

• BLS
• ACLS
• NIHSS

Education Requirements:

Completion of an approved nursing education program is required, alongside licensure as a Registered Nurse in South Dakota.

Skills Required:

• Comfort with MedSurg assignments.
• EPIC experience.
• Ability to read and interpret cardiac strips.
• Experience with chest tubes, trach care, NGT placement, and line management.
• Competence in wound care and medication administration (including TPN and blood product transfusions).
• Experience in drip titration for medications such as Heparin and Insulin.

Unit Support:

The unit is organized into pods, consisting of 8 patients per pod, staffed with 2 RNs and 1 Nurse Aide. Additional support includes:

• Two charge nurses who do not take a patient load.
• A flex nurse available daily.
• Access to nursing clinical support, RT, phlebotomy, and an IV/VAT team 24/7.

Charting System:

• EMR: Epic (required)
• IV Pumps: Baxter
• Med Dispensing: Omnicell

Floating:

Staff may be required to float to any adult inpatient unit within scope of practice, including Med Surg, Ortho/Neuro/Surgical, and others, and will rotate with other travelers.

Orientation:

New staff will complete a 2-day orientation covering unit-specific policies and protocols, followed by 2 shifts with a preceptor on the unit.

Scheduling:

• 6-week schedules are utilized.
• Weekend rotation may require travel nurses to work up to 4 out of 6 weekends.
• No mandatory on-call shifts required.
• Holiday requests must be made prior to offer. Blackout dates apply during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Employee Expectations:

Travelers are encouraged to be open to working every weekend (WOW) and should indicate any preferences for block scheduling.

Additional Notes:

• Travelers may be expected to precept students.
• Uniforms required: Navy Blue scrubs.
• Complimentary parking available for all staff.