Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular Stepdown Unit
Wheeling, WV
Access Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Rotating

Registered Nurse (RN) - Cardiovascular Step Down Unit (CVSD)

Location: Wheeling, West Virginia
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Night shift only or rotating day and night (2 weeks days / 2 weeks nights)
Hours: 12-hour shifts, approximately 36 hours per week
Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend on average
Holiday Requirement: Included in holiday rotation with permanent staff
Call/Standby: None
Floating: Required to float first

Unit Details

• 22 beds
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:4-6
• Nurse aides ratio: 1:15
• Charge nurse takes a full patient assignment
• Nursing supervisor available 24/7
• Hospitalist and intensivist in-house
• Respiratory therapist available hospital-wide 24/7 (no RT in ICU)
• No ventilators, continuous BiPAP, CPAP, or Airvo on unit
• Telemetry monitors present (Nihon Koden); monitor techs interpret and document strips, RNs do not read their own strips

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• Bradycardia, Atrial Fibrillation, Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE), Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• Post-operative patients: VATS, lobectomy, wedge resection, chest tubes, tracheotomy (no vents)
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
• Post-op day 1 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) patients (admitted to ICU post-op, then step down next day)

Required Skills & Responsibilities

• Experience with epicardial pacing and chest tubes
• RNs titrate drips per ordered parameters
• Common titratable drips: Cardizem, amiodarone, procainamide, dopamine, dobutamine, heparin, rarely insulin
• IV therapy team performs all IV sticks
• Must adhere to navy blue scrub dress code; no artificial nails allowed

Orientation & Scheduling

• Unit-specific orientation with a 12-hour shift preceptor
• Self-scheduling via a scheduling committee; block scheduling open for discussion

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Current BLS and ACLS certifications required
• Must provide a copy of an unexpired driver’s license with submission
• Licensing issues must be disclosed at time of submission

Additional Notes

• 50-mile radius rule for candidate submissions
• Rotating day/night schedule and weekend rotation based on a 6-week schedule
• Holidays covered as needed by travel RNs and permanent staff