Ortho Neuro Surgical PCU RN
Rapid City, SD
American Traveler
4x12 hrs, Days

Assignment Overview

• Shift: Days, 4x12hrs
• Hours: 48 hrs/wk
• Start Date: Jul 6, 2026
• Length: 13 weeks
• Openings: 1

Description

American Traveler is seeking an experienced RN for a mixed-acuity Ortho Neuro Surgical (ONS) PCU position in Rapid City, SD, requiring at least 1 year of nursing experience and Epic proficiency.

Details

• Work in a 64-bed Ortho Neuro Surgical (ONS) unit spread across two floors in a hospital setting
• Mixed-acuity unit encompassing Intermediate/Stepdown Care (IMC), Telemetry, and Med-Surg assignments
• Patient population includes surgical (urology, prostatectomy, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, general abdominal), orthopedic (total joints, ortho trauma, fractures), neuro/spine (CVA/TIA, seizures, brain tumors, craniotomies, halo placement, spinal surgeries), and general medical (COPD, CHF, renal failure, hepatic failure, pneumonia, wound care)
• RN patient ratio is 1:4 for PCU (may be 1:3 depending on drip complexity and acuity)
• Telemetry monitoring required for applicable patients
• Charting systems: Epic (required), Alaris, and Omnicell
• 12-hour day shifts, 48 hours per week
• Weekend rotation: up to 4 out of every 6 weekends, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
• Floating required in rotation with other travelers to adult inpatient units including Med-Surg, Heart and Vascular, Oncology, and Observation
• No mandatory on-call requirement

Requirements

• Active RN license in South Dakota (SD) or a compact state license currently in hand
• Current certifications: BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS
• Minimum 1 year of nursing experience at an intermediate/stepdown level required
• Epic EMR experience required
• Comfortable accepting Med-Surg assignments in addition to PCU acuity
• Experience with IMC/stepdown acuity and neuro patient populations preferred
• Proficiency with cardiac strip interpretation, chest tubes, trach care (no fresh traches), NGT placement and management, JP drains, PICC/Midline/CVL/PIV line management, wound vacs, wound care/dressing changes, TPN/tube feedings, blood product transfusions, and urinary/fecal collection devices
• Experience titrating drips including Heparin, Insulin, Cardizem, Amiodarone, and Levophed (up to 5 mcg); Esmolol and other beta-blockers/antihypertensives (training available if needed)
• Two professional references dated within the past year required for consideration
• DOB and SSN required for consideration

Additional Information

• First-time travelers are welcome with at least 1 year of experience, provided they have Epic experience
• Candidates must reside at least 100 miles from any Monument Health facility to be eligible
• Former permanent staff must wait a minimum of 1 full year before returning as a traveler
• Unit is organized in a pod structure: 8 patients per pod staffed with 2 RNs and 1 Nurse Aide
• Support staff includes two non-patient-load charge nurses (one per floor), a Flex Nurse (10am–10pm daily), phlebotomy, Respiratory Therapy, hospitalists, and a Resource Nurse Clinician during day shift
• Orientation consists of 2 days of classroom and department orientation plus 2 precepted shifts on the unit
• Schedules are issued in 6-week blocks
• No RTO is being accepted for holidays at this time; any RTO requests must be submitted prior to offer acceptance
• Blackout period for time-off requests runs approximately August 1–18 due to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
• Up to 1.5 weeks of time off may be approved; a contract extension may be required to fulfill the full 13-week term
• Post neuro-intervention experience is preferred but not required; education and resources are provided for those without this background
• May be expected to precept nursing students
• Scrub color: Navy Blue
• Free parking available on-site
• Monthly audits are conducted for pre/post pain scoring; 90% compliance is required