Med Surg / Telemetry RN
Bakersfield, California
Mercy Hospital Downtown

Telemetry RN (Registered Nurse)

Location: Bakersfield, California Contract Length: 13 weeks Shift: Nights, 12-hour shifts (36 hours/week)

Required Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience
• Certifications: BLS (AHA), ACLS, NIHSS (AHA or APEX)
• Must be able to read and interpret all cardiac rhythms

Unit and Patient Profile

• 32 beds, all private
• Nurse-to-patient ratios: 1:4 for tele patients, 1:5 for MedSurg patients. On a mixed MS and tele team, the ratio is 1:4.
• Patient types: acute and chronic medical conditions, cardiac telemetry, stroke, non-titratable drips, COVID, forensic, and potential post-op patients
• No titration required by RNs
• Set-rate drips: Cardizem, Amiodarone, and Heparin
• Respiratory equipment: CPAP or BiPAP per RT and MD order. No ventilators.
• Monitors are GE monitors.

Staffing and Coverage

• House supervisor in house 24/7, Nurse Manager during normal business hours
• Nurse Shift Manager plus Charge Nurse or Break Nurse each shift. Without a Nurse Shift Manager, there is a Charge Nurse and Break Nurse.
• CNAs are assigned based on census.
• No call. Standby may be requested for low census, with a 30-minute response time if called in.

Schedule

• Shifts: 7a–7:30p and 7p–7:30a
• Shift huddles at 0700 and 1900
• Weekends: 4 weekend shifts in a 4-week schedule (Fri/Sat for nights, Sat/Sun for days)
• Holidays: 1 major and 1 minor holiday minimum
• Every other weekend (EOW)

Float Scope

• Travelers are first to float.
• Can float to any MS/MST unit, the ICU for MST patients, and the ER for MST holds.
• Can float to another facility in the system, approximately 6.5 miles away.

Orientation and Expectations

• Unit orientation: 1–2 shifts with a preceptor
• Dress code: navy scrubs. Undershirts must be navy, white, or black. Scrub jackets must be navy. No hoodies, sweatshirts, or sweat jackets.
• Must uphold evidence-based practices: bedside shift report, intentional hourly rounding, and medication teaching including side effects
• Fast-paced unit with many admissions and high acuity
• Strict attendance policy. Patient safety issues will not be tolerated.