Step Down Registered Nurse
Cookeville, Tennessee
Cookeville Regional Medical Center

Registered Nurse – Step Down Unit (Travel/Contract)

Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Shift: Night (3 shifts per week, 12 hours each; 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Patient ratio: 5:1
• Weekend requirement: Every other weekend
• On-call: Not required
• First time traveler: No (prior travel experience expected)

Required Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – ARC, AHA, or US Department of Defense approved
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – ARC, AHA, or US Department of Defense approved
• NIH Stroke Certification (must be renewed annually)

Required Licenses and Verifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license with primary source verification
• NURSYS verification required for all RNs

Experience

• Minimum years of experience: Not explicitly stated; implied prior travel experience required (not a first-time traveler)

Background and Compliance Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check covering all locations lived/worked in past 7 years
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required within 30 days of start and updated for contract renewals
• Education verification (diploma/transcript acceptable as placeholder)
• Proof of 2 clinical references or hospital evaluations
• Skills checklist required
• Employment application/resume required
• Performance evaluation if worked with the system over 1 year; internal evaluation if over 2 years
• Tennessee Abuse Registry check required

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 1 year attesting ability to meet physical demands
• Negative TB test (PPD, Quantiferon Gold, or T-spot) or chest X-ray if previously positive, within 1 year
• Immunizations or titers required for:

  • Rubeola (Measles)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Hepatitis B (titer, vaccine series, or declination)
  • Varicella
• Seasonal flu vaccine required between October 31 and March 31; declination requires mask-wearing and completion of facility-specific form
• COVID vaccine accepted as seasonal COVID vaccine or facility-specific declination form

Testing and Competency

• Pass/Fail Arrhythmia and Medication Test on first day (two attempts allowed; failure results in cancellation)
• Advanced Arrhythmia test required for ICU, CVICU, Cardiac Cath Lab RNs; Step Down likely completes Basic Arrhythmia test
• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam required

Orientation and Facility-Specific Requirements

• Review and sign Travel & Contract Staff Orientation Acknowledgement after reviewing Nursing Orientation PowerPoint
• Review Nurse Resource Guide and Restraint Seclusion Policy prior to start
• Review Med Surg Agreement if assigned to Med/Surg areas
• Review study guides for medication and arrhythmia tests prior to start

Identification and Documentation

• Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or state ID) must be carried during hours of service
• Proof of E-Verify or attestation for Advanced Practice Nurses (if applicable)

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Tennessee
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Minimum of 1 year of Stepdown nursing experience within the last year
• Completion of at least one travel nursing assignment
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification