Med Surg Observation Unit RN
Marquette, MI
LifePoint
6x12 hrs, Days, Nights

Job Opportunity: RN - Med Surg (Observation Unit Nurse)

Location: Marquette, Michigan
Employment Type: Travel Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job 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 involves 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 assessments and frequent reassessments to monitor patient progress.
• Implement and adjust care plans based on provider orders, patient condition changes, and clinical judgment.
• Administer medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparation per protocol.
• Monitor vital signs, labs, and diagnostic results; promptly report changes and abnormal findings.
• Provide patient education on diagnosis, treatment plans, medications, and discharge instructions.
• Coordinate care with physicians, case management, and multidisciplinary teams to support timely disposition.
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in the electronic health record (Cerner).
• Facilitate efficient admission, transfer, and discharge workflows.
• Support safe and smooth 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 standards, patient safety protocols, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to enhance patient experience, throughput, and clinical outcomes.

Unit Profile

• Unit: Observation Unit
• Number of Beds: 10
• Patient Population: Adults only (>18 years)
• Patient Ratios: Approximately 1:5 (no defined ratios)
• Equipment: Cardiac monitor
• Electronic Health Record: Cerner
• Shift: 5 Days / 5 Nights, 12-hour shifts
• Weekly Guaranteed Hours: 72 hours per pay period (0.9 FTE)
• Weekend/Holiday Work: Required
• Float Requirements: Yes, to Medical/Cardiac/Neuro-Ortho Units
• Call Requirements: None mandated

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Michigan
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Minimum of 2 years of medical-surgical nursing experience, including experience within the last year
• Experience working with adult patients
• Current BLS (Basic Life Support) certification
• Current ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certification
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) competency

Common Diagnoses/Treatments

• Chest pain
• Asthma exacerbation
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Abdominal pain
• Urinary issues
• Blood sugar issues
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Cellulitis
• Post-procedural monitoring
• Minor trauma

Additional Information

• Orientation is bi-weekly
• Dress Code: Galaxy blue scrubs
• No guarantee on block scheduling

This position is ideal for RNs with solid med/surg experience who thrive in a fast-paced observation unit environment and are comfortable managing a diverse adult patient population requiring short-term care and rapid clinical decision-making.