RN (Registered Nurse)

Unit Notes
Candidates may not be full time, part time, or PRN with any facility associated with CommonSpirit, including CHI and/or Dignity within the past year.


Primary to St Joseph Medical Center, but if needed, travelers will be required to float throughout Region Two: St. Clare Hospital - Lakewood, WA; St. Elizabeth Hospital - Enumclaw, WA; St Joseph Medical Center - Tacoma, WA. Rate differential when floated outside of SJMC.

Unit Med/Surg and Telemetry
# of beds see below
Med Surg at SJMC consists of 6 different units, with different specialties. All units are telemetry. Travelers will be required to float to cover the need of the entire med surg/tele division. They could also float to alternate med surg/tele units.

MED SURG UNITS:
7th Floor -- Surgical unit, abdominal surgeries, trauma, Whipple -- 36 beds
8BC -- long term low acuity unit, patients waiting for placement, on long term antibiotic therapy -- 17 beds
9th Floor -- general medical cases, chronic and acute -- 38 beds
2 south -- short stay, cardiac, COVID unit -- 41 beds
3 south -- Neuro unit -- 33 beds
4 South -- ortho and spine unit -- 21 beds

OTHER MED SURG ALTERNATE UNITS/ASSIGNMENTS:
10th floor Med Surg Oncology
ER Transition Unit -- unit adjacent to ER, holding area for med surg patients waiting for med surg beds
ERT: 9 transition beds in the emergency room, no specific patient restrictions, own tele monitoring
CDU: rapid cardiac decision unit, 8 beds, curtained areas between beds, own tele monitoring
MSW: med-surg transition area, curtained areas between beds, 8 beds, some infection prevention exclusion
criteria mostly general med-tele patients


Can be assigned as a CNA if RN short (same expectation with our own staff)
Can be assigned as an entrance screener if needed (same expectation with our own staff)

Ratios In all units RNs take 4-5 patients
Required certifications BLS
Common diagnoses/Types of patients See description above
Experience or 'Must have' skills At least 2 years acute care experience
Are RNs required to titrate drips? Yes. Most drips are at set rate*** can titrate up to max per med surg guideline. Will transfer to critical care if max reached.
Common titratable &/or set rate drips Insulin, Heparin, Nitro up to 30mcg, Dobutamine up to 5mcg, Dopamine up to 5 mcg. Cardizem up to 30 mcg only for patients already on oral Cardizem, may not be used for new onset arrythmias
Charge Nurse/House Supervisor Charge RN per each unit, House Supervisor 11am-7am
Are there nurse aids on this unit/Ratios Yes. CNAs take 8-11 patients
RT Equipment (vents, Cpap, BiPap, etc) CPAP, Bipap, Trachs, no vents
Is there tele on this unit? Monitor Techs? RNs read strips? Yes. Tele are monitored remotely by telemetry techs. They measure and read strips, RNs verify reading is correct
Shifts & Scheduling 12 hour shifts, full time, every other weekend, schedule based on staffing need to cover the entire med surg division
Weekend Requirement Every other
Holiday Requirement Yes, 1-2 winter holidays
Is there a call or standby requirement? Yes, up to 4 times during contract duration
Floating Requirements Required to float to all MS/Tele divisions .
Scrub Color/Dress Code No specific color required
Breaks: Travelers required to take breaks when offered, cannot refuse
Unit/Department specific orientation Will orient 4 hours each on 7th, 8BC, 9th, 2 south, 3 south and 4 south. Will not be oriented to alternate units (same med surg standard of care)
Additional Notes
Additional Questions

VivPost