RN - Medsurg

Unit Notes


Nurse:Patient Ratios What are your nursing ratios? 1:4-5
Required certifications (i.e., BLS, ACLS?) "What certifications are required for your floor?
Ex: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS" BLS
Common diagnoses/Types of patients "What are common diagnosis's or types of patients that you care for on your unit or in your department?
Experience or 'Must have' skills "Must Have: Recent med/surg experience;
Are RNs required to titrate drips? "Do you titrate any drips on your unit (Heparin, insulin, nitro, etc)?
Does your unit take any set rate cardiac gtts (amio, dopamine, dobutamine, etc.)?" Heparin - no cardiac gtts.
Common titratable &/or set rate drips "What drips do you titrate? What drips are set rate?
" Heparin only
Are there tele/monitor techs on this unit? Are RNs required to read their own strips? What brand are the tele monitors? "Do you have telemetry on your unit or in your department?
What brand are the monitors?
Do nurses have to read & interpret strips?
Do you have monitor techs? " No telemetry in specified department, but preferred skill since there is a potential to float throughout the hospital.
Is there a House Supervisor in house 24/7?" Yes, there is a charge out of the count; Manager available M-F; House Supervisor 24/7
Are there nurse aids on this unit/Ratios "Do you use CNAs, PCT, or Techs?
What are their ratios?
RT Equipment (i.e., Cpap, BiPap, High Flow, vents, etc.) "Is RT directly available or designated to your unit?
Do you have Bipap, Cpap, or High Flow, vents, or trachs on your unit?
Do RN or RTs administered respirtory treatments (breathing treatments, inhalers, etc)?" RT will be assigned to the unit
How far out do you make the schedule? self scheduling, 4 weeks at a time
Weekend Requirement 3 weekend days per pay period, same requirement for travelers; Weekend days are Sat/Sun
Holiday RequirementDo you work them into the perm staff rotation schedule?" Yes.
Is there Call or a Standby requirement? no
Floating Requirements? Other med/surg/tele areas; travelers are first to float. ICU RNs take ratio of 1:3