Stepdown RN
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

PCU RN

Overview

• Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Contract Length: 13 weeks
• Shift: Nights, 12 hours
• Hours: 36 per week

Schedule

• Shift Times: 0630-1900 and 1830-0700
• Scheduling: Cyclic
• Weekends: Every other weekend
• Holidays: 1 major and 1 minor

Unit Details

• Department: Stepdown RN
• Beds: 22
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:4
• Charge Nurse: Present on each shift and takes a full patient assignment
• Nursing Aides/Patient Care Techs: Present, ratio 1:10
• Common Diagnoses: Heart failure, atrial fibrillation (Afib), respiratory distress, stroke
• Pace: Fast-paced unit with many admits and discharges

Clinical Responsibilities

• RNs must titrate drips. Common titratable or set-rate drips include Cardizem, amiodarone, and nitro.
• RNs must read and interpret telemetry strips.
• RNs are responsible for CPAP equipment.
• Floating: May float to ICU if appropriate and the RN has ICU experience.

Required Qualifications

• Certifications: BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS
• Valid driver's license, required at submittal (used to verify distance from the facility)
• Must live outside a 50-mile radius of the facility
• Must not have worked full time, part time, or PRN at any affiliated facility of the same health system within the past year
• Artificial nails are prohibited in all patient care areas. Refusal to remove nails will result in contract termination.

Orientation

• 1 twelve-hour orientation shift in the department
• Pass/fail exam on Friday during orientation: open-book, covering skills learned. Candidates are given all necessary resources. A score of 90% is required to pass, and failing results in termination.

Process

• Prescreen and auto-offer process
• RTO (return to organization) must be submitted upfront. Additional RTO requests will not be approved, including after submissions.

Ideal Candidate Traits

• Positive attitude
• Teamwork
• Patient-oriented
• Motivated by caring for patients