Observation Unit RN (Med/Surg)
Marquette, MI
GHR Healthcare - PH Division
3x12 hrs

Travel RN Opportunity – Observation Unit Nurse

Location: Marquette, Michigan
Specialty: Registered Nurse (RN) – Observation Unit
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Facility & Unit Overview

• 225-bed specialty care hospital with multiple specialty centers including Heart & Vascular, Cancer, Brain & Spine, Rehab, Behavioral Health, Digestive Health, Bariatric Medicine & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Pediatrics
• Observation Unit: 10 beds, adult patients only (>18 years)
• Trauma Level: 2
• Patient Ratios: Approximately 1:5 (no defined ratios)
• Equipment: Cardiac monitor
• Electronic Health Record (EHR): Cerner
• Shift: 5 days / 5 nights, 12-hour shifts
• Weekly Guaranteed Hours: 72 hours (0.9 FTE)
• Weekend and holiday work required
• Float requirements to Medical, Cardiac, Neuro-Ortho units
• No mandated call requirements

Role Summary

The Observation Unit Nurse provides high-quality, patient-centered nursing care for patients requiring short-term evaluation and treatment (typically 24–48 hours) to determine admission or safe discharge. The role emphasizes rapid assessment, frequent reassessment, care coordination, and timely intervention for diverse medical and surgical conditions in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform timely and comprehensive initial and frequent patient assessments
• Implement and adjust care plans based on provider orders and clinical judgment
• Administer medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparation per protocol
• Monitor vital signs, labs, and diagnostic results; report changes promptly
• Provide patient education on diagnosis, treatment, medications, and discharge instructions
• Coordinate care with physicians, case management, and multidisciplinary teams
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in EHR
• Facilitate efficient admission, transfer, and discharge workflows
• Support safe transitions of care including follow-up appointments and patient teaching
• Respond to urgent situations and perform emergency interventions within scope of practice
• Maintain compliance with infection control, patient safety, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements
• Participate in performance improvement activities

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Registered Nurse (RN) license
• Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIH Stroke Scale Competency, Telemetry/ECG Competency
• Required years of experience: 2+ years in medical/surgical nursing (higher value taken from description)
• Preferred experience: Telemetry experience
• Must be able to float to Medical, Cardiac, Neuro-Ortho units

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• Adult patients (>18 years) under observation status
• Common conditions include: chest pain, asthma exacerbation, transient ischemic attack (TIA), abdominal pain, urinary issues, blood sugar issues, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE), cellulitis, post-procedural monitoring, minor trauma

Additional Information

• Orientation is bi-weekly
• Dress code: Galaxy blue scrubs
• No guarantee on block scheduling
• Weekend and holiday shifts required

Prior Travel Experience

• No explicit requirement for prior travel experience mentioned.