Med Surg Observation Unit RN
Marquette, Michigan
UP Health System Marquette

Job Opportunity: RN - Med Surg (Observation Unit Nurse)

Location: Marquette, Michigan
Employment Type: Travel Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

Provide high-quality, patient-centered nursing care in a fast-paced Observation Unit for adult patients requiring short-term evaluation and treatment (typically 24–48 hours). Focus on rapid assessment, frequent reassessment, care coordination, and timely intervention for diverse medical and surgical conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform timely and comprehensive initial assessments and frequent reassessments to monitor patient progress.
• Implement and adjust care plans based on provider orders, patient condition changes, and clinical judgment.
• Administer medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparation per protocol.
• Monitor vital signs, labs, and diagnostic results; promptly report changes and abnormal findings.
• Provide patient education on diagnosis, treatment plans, medications, and discharge instructions.
• Coordinate care with physicians, case management, and multidisciplinary teams to support timely disposition.
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in the electronic health record (Cerner).
• Facilitate efficient admission, transfer, and discharge workflows.
• Support safe and smooth transitions of care, including follow-up appointments and patient teaching.
• Respond to urgent situations and perform emergency interventions within scope of practice.
• Maintain compliance with infection control standards, patient safety protocols, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to enhance patient experience, throughput, and clinical outcomes.

Unit Profile

• Unit: Observation Unit (10 beds)
• Patient Population: Adults (>18 years)
• Patient Ratios: Approximately 1:5 (no defined ratios)
• Equipment: Cardiac monitor
• Shift: 5 Days / 5 Nights, 12-hour shifts
• Weekly Guaranteed Hours: 72 hours per pay period (0.9 FTE)
• Weekend/Holiday Work: Required
• Float Requirements: Yes, float to Medical/Cardiac/Neuro-Ortho Units
• EHR System: Cerner

Required Qualifications

• License: Registered Nurse (RN) license in Michigan
• Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIH Stroke Scale Competency, Telemetry/ECG Competency
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience in medical-surgical nursing (higher of 1 year med/surg and 2 years stated in additional notes)
• Preferred Experience: Telemetry experience
• Other: Ability to work weekends and holidays; float to other units as needed

Common Diagnoses/Treatments

• Chest pain
• Asthma exacerbation
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Abdominal pain
• Urinary issues
• Blood sugar issues
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Cellulitis
• Post-procedural monitoring
• Minor trauma

Additional Information

• Orientation is bi-weekly
• Trauma Level 2 facility
• Dress Code: Galaxy blue scrubs
• No mandated call requirements
• No guarantee on block scheduling

This position is ideal for RNs with solid med/surg experience looking to work in a dynamic observation unit environment with a variety of adult patient conditions.