Medical-Surgical/Telemetry RN – ED Holding Support
Wilmington, North Carolina
New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - MS/Tele (ED Holding Support)

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Night (3 shifts of 12 hours; 18:45 - 7:15)
Hours per Week: 36 hours
Unit: Emergency Department (ED) Holding Support, Float Pool

Job Description

• Support patients in the ED Holding unit who are awaiting inpatient beds; patients may have any adult medical/surgical diagnosis.
• Care for PCU-level patients and manage MS/Telemetry cases.
• Float to Emergency Department and MedSurg areas as needed.
• Target nurse-to-patient ratios: 1:6 for MS/Tele patients or 1:4 for PCU-level patients.
• Weekend work required every other weekend.
• Maximum allowed call-off (RTO) after booking is 7 days; additional call-offs may lead to cancellation.
• Contract staff may be assigned to Storm or Hurricane Teams and may be required to work during catastrophic events or disasters.
• Orientation: 12 hours.
• Scrubs color: Navy.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Minimum 1 year of recent experience in Medical-Surgical and Telemetry nursing.
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Competency in management of dysrhythmias.
• Experience with renal failure patient care.
• Proficient in blood product administration.
• Skilled in PICC line management.
• Experience with chest tubes including Emerson and Pleur-evac systems.
• Competent in use of CPAP and BiPAP devices.
• Skilled in High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) therapy.
• Proficient in non-invasive airway management.

Preferred Skills (Not Required)

• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification.
• IV insulin protocols.
• Pre/Post hemodialysis management.
• Accessing ports and central line blood draws.
• Starting IVs.
• Experience with CVA, neuro surgery, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic trauma, total joint replacements, wound care, and wound vac.

Patient Population

• Adult medical/surgical patients with a variety of diagnoses.
• Patients may be at PCU level acuity.

Equipment and Systems

• Standard hospital equipment including cardiac monitors and IV pumps.
• Unit uses Pyxis for medication dispensing, Epic for documentation, and SBAR for communication.

Scheduling and Work Requirements

• Manager schedules shifts.
• Every other weekend required.
• Float to ED and MedSurg units as needed.
• Must be available for disaster response teams if called.

Health and Compliance Requirements

• Physical exam within 1 year of start; if past positive TB, physical within 30 days required.
• Negative TB test (PPD, Qgold, or Tspot) within 1 year; if positive, chest x-ray within 5 years and physician-signed TB questionnaire required.
• Fit testing for N95 mask or completion of PAPR training required within 1 year.
• Drug screening within 30 days of start (10-panel, negative).
• Immunizations or titers required for:

  • Rubeola (Measles)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B (titer or series or facility-specific declination)
• Seasonal flu vaccine or approved medical/religious exemption required during flu season (9/1 - 10/31).
• Background checks including local, federal, national criminal, sex offender, and education verification required.
• State-specific registry checks required within 90 days prior to start.

Orientation and Training

• 12-hour unit orientation.
• Non-Novant Health Worker Orientation required for North Carolina travel candidates (8-10 hours for acute care).
• Medication Safety training module completion required.
• Annual compliance and facility-specific mandatory education required.
• CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training required if assigned to ER or Behavioral Health.
• Additional certifications may be required depending on unit assignment (e.g., TNCC, CHEMO).

Additional Notes

• Navy scrubs required.
• Photo for badge must be passport style with solid white background and meet specific guidelines.
• Candidates must complete a confidentiality agreement, hospital policies acknowledgment, and other facility-specific documents prior to start.
• Candidates must complete the Corp ID process including setting up an account and logging into the learning system within 24 hours of receiving credentials.
• Candidates must be prepared for a high-acuity, fast-paced environment with high patient turnover.
• References: 2 professional references within 3 years required for travel and acute care positions.

This position is ideal for experienced Registered Nurses comfortable with telemetry and medical-surgical care, who are flexible to float within ED and MedSurg units and able to work night shifts in a high-acuity ED holding environment.