Job Title : Observation Unit Nurse Profession : RN Specialty : Med Surg Duration : 13 weeks Shift : Night Hours per Shift : 12 Experience : 2 years License : RN license Certifications : BLS, ACLS, NIH Stroke Scale Competency, Tele / ECG Competency Must-Have : 1 year of med / surg experience Description : The Observation Unit Nurse provides high-quality, patient-centered nursing care to individuals requiring short-term evaluation and treatment. Typically, patient stays are 24 to 48 hours to determine the need for admission or safe discharge. This role focuses on rapid assessment, frequent reassessment, care coordination, and timely intervention for patients with diverse medical and surgical conditions. The nurse works in a fast-paced environment, balancing efficiency with compassionate, evidence-based care. Key responsibilities include performing timely and comprehensive initial assessments and frequent reassessments to monitor patient progress. The nurse implements and adjusts care plans based on provider orders, patient condition changes, and clinical judgment. Administering medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparation per protocol is required. Monitoring vital signs, labs, and diagnostic results is essential, with prompt reporting of changes and abnormal findings. Patient education on diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, and discharge instructions is provided. Coordination of care with physicians, case management, and multidisciplinary teams supports timely disposition. Accurate documentation of assessments, interventions, and patient responses in the electronic health record is necessary. Facilitating efficient admission, transfer, and discharge workflows is part of the role. Supporting safe and smooth transitions of care, including follow-up appointments and patient teaching, is critical. The nurse responds to urgent situations and performs emergency interventions within the scope of practice. Maintaining compliance with infection control standards, patient safety protocols, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements is vital. Participation in performance improvement activities aims to enhance patient experience, throughput, and clinical outcomes. The unit features a patient ratio of approximately 1 : 5 with a focus on adult patients over 18 years of age. Required equipment includes cardiac monitors, and the electronic health record system used is Cerner. This position may include floating to Medical, Cardiac, or Neuro-Ortho units as needed. Common diagnoses for patients include chest pain, asthma exacerbation, TIA, abdominal pain, urinary issues, blood sugar issues, DVT / PE, cellulitis, post-procedural monitoring, and minor trauma. The dress code requires galaxy blue scrubs, with no unacceptable attire specified.
Travel Nurse Rn Telemetry • Marquette, MI, US