RN - MS Ortho

Registered Nurse

Job Title: Registered Nurse

Profession: RN

Specialty: Orthopedic-Neuro Medical Surgical

Duration: 13 weeks

Shift: 12 Hour Days

Hours per Shift: 12 hours

Experience: Minimum 2 years

License: Required

Certifications: BLS (AHA)

Must-Have: Experience with orthopedic patients and PCA pumps

Description: Unit has 33 beds, all private rooms. Ratios are 1 RN to 6 patients. Epic experience is required. Common diagnoses include elective surgeries such as hips, knees, and shoulders, fractures from falls, and back and neck surgeries. RNs are not required to titrate drips. Common IV fluids and PCA pumps may be used. No heparin or other drips. There is a Charge Nurse present 24/7. Day charge may take patients if necessary, while night charge will always take a full patient assignment. Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) assist on the unit. The goal is to have four PCTs if the unit is full, but usually, there are a maximum of three. PCT duties include taking vital signs, performing fingerstick blood sugars, assisting with activities of daily living, and discontinuing Foley catheters. Remote telemetry is monitored as needed. RNs do not read strips. Shift hours are from 0700 to 1930 and 1900 to 0730 with a half-hour lunch break. Permanent staff self-schedules, while travelers will be scheduled as needed. Block scheduling is allowed as long as the unit's needs are met. Travelers are required to work every other weekend. Weekend shifts for days are Saturday and Sunday, and night shifts are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Holiday requirements depend on the needs of the unit, and travelers may be expected to work holidays if there are insufficient permanent staff. Travelers are the first to float and will be floated to any Medical Surgical units, ensuring skill set alignment when floated to telemetry. Scrub color is royal blue, and scrub jackets are not required, but if worn, they must be actual scrub jackets of that color. Hoodies or sweat jackets are not permitted. There is one day of orientation on the unit with a preceptor, followed by independent work starting on the third day.