Medical-Surgical Float Pool RN
Kankakee, Illinois
Riverside Medical Center

Registered Nurse (Float Pool) - Illinois

Job Details

• Location: Kankakee, Illinois
• Contract Length: 13 weeks
• Shift: Nights
• Hours: 12-hour shifts, 48 hours per week
• Units Included:

  • MedSurg (5 units)
  • Med Peds (5 units)
  • Telemetry IMCU
  • Rehab
  • Behavioral Health (Senior/adolescent/adult)

Patient Ratios & Staffing

• Nurse-to-patient ratios:

  • MedSurg/Med Peds/Behavioral Health: 1:5-6
  • IMCU: 1:5
• LPNs are used; RNs take full assignments (no team nursing currently)
• CNAs present with a 1:10 ratio; additional nursing staff added if CNA coverage is low
• Non-CNA sitters available for behavioral health patients

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Illinois RN license in hand required
• BLS and ACLS certifications required
• NIHSS certification preferred

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2+ years RN experience required
• Prior float pool experience preferred
• EPIC electronic health record experience required
• Prior travel experience preferred but not mandatory
• No first-time travelers accepted for this float pool role

Clinical & Job Details

• Common patient diagnoses:

  • Acute surgical, orthopedic/neuro, occasional hip/knee surgeries
  • Medical-surgical, detox, hospice care
  • Pediatric respiratory illnesses
  • Telemetry patients post-surgical, CHF, chest pain, radial catheter procedures (training provided for radial band management)
  • Chest tubes mainly in IMCU
  • High renal patient population including peritoneal dialysis
  • Rehab patients with some IV therapy
  • Use of BiPAP/CPAP at night for home patients; continuous BiPAP in IMCU
• Cath lab recovery experience for IMCU patients preferred
• RNs do not titrate drips except heparin per protocol
• Common titratable medications in IMCU: amiodarone, cardizem, dobutamine, lasix, insulin (glucomander)
• Charge nurse role:

  • Day shift team lead (does not take patients)
  • Night/weekend/holiday charge nurse takes patients
• Respiratory therapy equipment:

  • Ventilators only in ICU; RT manages settings
  • BiPAP/CPAP on med/tele units only if home setting
  • Continuous BiPAP on IMCU/ICU
  • Nurses may assist RT with nebulizer treatments upon request
• Telemetry:

  • Med/Tele units have remote telemetry monitored 24/7 by techs; nurses verify strips
  • ICU handles own telemetry strips

Scheduling & Orientation

• Shift times: 5 PM to 5 AM (12 hours) except mental health units (7 AM to 7 PM)
• Assignments given by call-in before shift (no more than 1 hour prior)
• Weekend and holiday work required every other week
• Call or standby is not usually required
• Unit-specific orientation: 1 twelve-hour shift on one unit; units are similarly set up
• Scrub color: Caribbean blue

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license required for submission
• Local candidates within 20-50 miles considered; those within 50 miles offered a reduced rate (not included here)
• Facility requires clinical prescreen; hiring manager will decide within 24 hours without a second phone interview

This position is ideal for experienced float pool RNs with EPIC experience and Illinois licensure, comfortable working across multiple units including telemetry and behavioral health, and able to work night shifts with rotating weekends and holidays.