Travel Nurse RN - Telemetry
Bakersfield, CA
First Connect Health
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

Med/Surg Telemetry Registered Nurse (RN)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Med/Surg Telemetry Registered Nurse (RN) to join a fast-paced, high-acuity unit providing comprehensive care to adult patients with a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions. The ideal candidate will be confident managing both medical-surgical and telemetry patients, interpreting cardiac rhythms, administering medications and non-titratable drips, and providing safe, evidence-based patient care.

This is a 32-bed, all-private-room unit with a collaborative and welcoming team environment. The unit experiences a high volume of admissions and requires nurses who are organized, adaptable, clinically confident, and committed to patient safety.

Unit & Patient Population

• Unit Size: 32 private beds
• Patient Population: Adult medical-surgical and telemetry patients
• Telemetry Ratio: 1 RN : 4 patients
• Med/Surg Ratio: 1 RN : 5 patients
• Mixed MS/Telemetry Assignment: 1 RN : 4 patients
• Monitoring: GE cardiac telemetry monitors
• Telemetry Skills: RNs must independently read and interpret cardiac rhythms
• Respiratory Support: CPAP/BiPAP per RT and physician orders
• Ventilators: Not utilized on the unit

Common Patient Diagnoses & Clinical Conditions

The unit cares for patients with a broad range of conditions, including:

• Acute and chronic medical conditions
• Cardiac telemetry patients
• Stroke patients
• Patients requiring non-titratable IV drips
• COVID-positive patients
• Forensic patients
• Potential postoperative patients
• Patients requiring cardiac monitoring and respiratory support

Medication & Drip Management

RNs are not required to titrate drips on this unit. Common set-rate medications may include:

• Cardizem
• Amiodarone
• Heparin

Strong assessment skills and the ability to recognize changes in cardiac rhythm and patient condition are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, patient-centered care within the RN scope of practice.
• Perform thorough assessments and ongoing reassessments of assigned patients.
• Monitor telemetry patients and independently interpret cardiac rhythms.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and promptly escalate concerns.
• Administer medications, IV therapy, and prescribed treatments safely and accurately.
• Manage set-rate Cardizem, Amiodarone, Heparin, and other prescribed therapies.
• Provide care for stroke, cardiac, medical-surgical, postoperative, and other high-acuity patients.
• Manage patients requiring CPAP/BiPAP in collaboration with respiratory therapy and providers.
• Complete accurate and timely electronic documentation.
• Provide patient education, including medication teaching and potential side effects.
• Perform intentional hourly rounding and maintain patient safety.
• Participate in bedside shift report and effective interdisciplinary communication.
• Collaborate with physicians, respiratory therapists, CNAs, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Maintain evidence-based nursing practices and facility standards.
• Prioritize care effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent admissions.

Required Qualifications & Certifications

• Minimum 2 years of recent RN experience
• Strong Med/Surg and Telemetry experience
• BLS – Required
• ACLS – Required
• NIHSS – Required
• Cerner experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret cardiac rhythms
• Strong clinical judgment and assessment skills
• Ability to manage a fast-paced, high-acuity patient assignment

Staffing & Leadership

• House Supervisor: In-house 24/7
• Nurse Manager: Available during normal business hours
• Nurse Shift Manager: Available on applicable shifts
• Charge Nurse / Break Nurse: Present each shift
• If no Nurse Shift Manager is present, a Charge Nurse and Break Nurse will be available.
• CNAs: Staffing is based on patient census.

Schedule

• Shift Length: 12 hours
• Day Shift: 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
• Night Shift: 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM
• Shift Huddles: 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM
• Weekend Requirement: 4 weekend shifts within a 4-week schedule
  • Nights: Friday/Saturday
  • Days: Saturday/Sunday
• Holiday Requirement: Minimum of 1 major and 1 minor holiday
• Call: No scheduled call requirement
• Standby: May be placed on standby due to low census. If called in, a 30-minute response time is required.

Floating Requirements

Travelers are first to float based on staffing needs.

Floating may include:

• Other Med/Surg or Med/Surg Telemetry units
• Mercy Downtown, approximately 6.5 miles away
• ICU for appropriate Med/Surg Telemetry patients
• Emergency Department for Med/Surg Telemetry holds

Candidates must be flexible and comfortable floating within their clinical scope.

Orientation

• 1–2 shifts with a designated preceptor
• Department-specific orientation will focus on unit workflow, documentation, equipment, protocols, and clinical expectations.

Dress Code

• Scrub Color: Navy Blue
• Undershirts worn beneath scrub tops must be navy, white, or black
• Scrub jackets must also be navy blue
• Hoodies, sweatshirts, and sweat jackets are not permitted

Unit Culture & Expectations

The unit is known for having a warm, welcoming, and collaborative staff environment while maintaining high clinical standards.

The successful RN must consistently demonstrate:

• Commitment to evidence-based nursing practice
• Bedside shift reporting
• Intentional hourly rounding
• Thorough medication education, including potential side effects
• Strong patient-safety awareness
• Professional communication and teamwork
• Reliability and punctuality
• Ability to manage high-acuity patients and frequent admissions
• Adaptability in a fast-paced clinical environment

Patient safety is the highest priority. Any practice or behavior that compromises patient safety is not acceptable. The unit also maintains strict attendance and punctuality expectations, and nurses are expected to arrive on time and fully prepared for their scheduled shifts.

Akshay #1184228