Trauma Stepdown (PCU) Registered Nurse
Denton, TX
GHR Healthcare - PH Division
3x12 hrs

Travel RN - Trauma Stepdown Unit

Location: Denton, Texas
Specialty: Registered Nurse (RN)
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Information

• Unit: Surgical Trauma (Trauma Stepdown)
• Beds: 25
• Staffing: 44 Full-Time Equivalents (57 headcount)
• Shift Staffing:

  • Day Shift: 1 charge nurse / 6 RNs / 3 techs / 1 secretary
  • Night Shift: 1 charge nurse / 6 RNs / 3 techs
• Patient Ratios: 1:4 (up to 1:5 max for stepdown)
• Floor: 5th floor, Main Building
• EMR System: Meditech
• On Call: None
• Floating: May float to Progressive Care Unit or Heart and Vascular Unit

Required Certifications & Licenses

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• NIH Certification
• Registered Nurse License

Preferred Skills

• Trauma and Orthopedic experience
• Meditech EMR experience
• Strong customer service skills

Typical Patient Population & Procedures

• Acute surgical intervention and post-op care including:

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • General Surgery
  • Urological Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Neuro/Spine Surgery
  • GI Bleed / Endoscopy
  • Pulmonary Embolus
• Neurological diagnoses such as CVA, TIA, TBI, post-neurosurgery, altered mental status, meningitis, new onset seizures
• Cardiac and respiratory conditions including:

  • Hypertensive crisis and urgency
  • Chest pain, CHF, unstable angina, suspected MI (NSTEMI & STEMI)
  • Sepsis (hemodynamically stable)
  • Alcohol withdrawal
  • Post cardiac cath lab and post-op cardiovascular surgery patients (hemodynamically stable)
  • Acute cardiac dysrhythmias requiring IV/PO medication management
  • Mild to moderate congestive heart failure with elevated BNP or pulmonary edema without shock
  • Respiratory distress requiring Venti mask, BiPAP, or CPAP
• Post-op vascular procedures (femoropopliteal bypass, peripheral stents, aortograms, carotid endarterectomy)
• Patients on various IV drips including: Agatroban, Amiodarone, Cardene, Cardizem, Dobutamine, Dopamine, Heparin, Lasix, Morphine/Ativan (palliative), Nitroglycerin, Primacor, Sodium Bicarbonate

Monitoring & Assessment

• Vital signs every 4 hours
• Telemetry monitoring every 4 hours
• Patient assessments every 4 hours
• Vital sign parameters:

  • HR 50-150 bpm
  • BP systolic >90 and <180 mmHg
  • Respiratory rate 10-30 breaths/min
  • Oxygen saturation >90%

Work Environment & Culture

• Level 2 trauma center with 90% of inpatients admitted through the Emergency Department
• Team-oriented environment
• Adaptable to changing conditions
• Emphasis on good communication skills
• Competitive market for travel nurses

This position is ideal for RNs with trauma stepdown experience who are comfortable managing a diverse and acute patient population in a fast-paced surgical trauma unit.