Cardiac Telemetry RN
Salisbury, North Carolina
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center

Registered Nurse: Cardiac Tele

• Location: Salisbury, North Carolina
• Contract length: 13 to 26 weeks (unit will accept this range; 13 weeks listed)
• Shift: Night, 12-hour shifts, 18:45 to 07:15 (3x12 hours)
• Hours: Up to 36 hours per week (36 hours can be offered)
• Local candidates: Accepted
• Traveler experience: Accepts first-time travelers
• Scheduling: Self-scheduling within unit guidelines, with leadership oversight. No block scheduling.

Unit and Patient Population

• Unit: CTU, the primary cardiac and stroke unit. Described as challenging and very busy.
• Patient types: Pre- and post-procedure care for pacemaker implantation, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac catheterization (including TR bands). Post uncomplicated interventional peripheral vascular procedures. Unstable angina, low-risk chest pain evaluation, CHF, dysrhythmias, and all new CVA and TIA patients.
• Drips: Multiple drips, including Cardizem (which the nurse may titrate), dopamine, and amiodarone.
• Ratios: Target 1:5 to 1:6, which may fluctuate with unit needs. Travelers must be comfortable taking 6 patients, including during surges.
• Turnover: About 78 to 90 patients per week. A team lead helps with admissions and discharges.
• COVID: The unit houses COVID-positive patients on Optiflow and BiPAP. The high side (23 beds) of CTU becomes a COVID unit during a surge, taking patients on Optiflow and acute BiPAP.

Required Qualifications

• Valid North Carolina RN license
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Med Surg / Telemetry, with similar ratios and acuity
• Med Surg / Telemetry experience within the last year
• Experience working with cardiac patients
• IV insertion skills (IV starts)
• Experience with cardiac or critical care drips
• Experience with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) issued by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• BLS issued by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• NIHSS (NIH Stroke Scale) certification
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) / Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Schedule and Work Requirements

• Float: Required
• On call: Required. Frequency depends on patient census.
• Weekends: Every other weekend, plus 2 Mondays and 2 Fridays within a 6-week period
• RTO: Not allowed after booking, and may not be worked onsite. RTO is limited to 7 days maximum. Call-offs or additional RTO on the unit may result in cancellation.
• Orientation: 36 hours. Travelers must be available every day in week one for hospital orientation.

Equipment and Care Restrictions

• Telemetry and pulse oximetry are used. Patients must be on pulse oximetry.
• High-flow O2 is allowed only when stable.
• Non-rebreather masks are allowed only for palliative patients.
• BiPAP is allowed only for chronic use. New BiPAP is not allowed.
• Not allowed: unstable O2 with BiPAP, non-rebreather masks (except palliative), or respiratory rate above 35.
• Unit systems include medication, documentation, and SBAR communication.

Onboarding and Health Requirements

• Background check within 6 months of start (clinical candidates)
• TB test within 1 year of start, or proof of past positive TB with a chest X-ray within 5 years
• Drug screen (9-panel or instant) within 6 months of start
• 2026-27 flu vaccination required (intranasal accepted). Medical or religious exemptions are reviewed case by case.
• Measles: titer, or 2 vaccines
• Annual compliance training (40 minutes)
• Education roster (2 hours and 45 minutes)
• Medication safety module (35 minutes for clinicians who prepare, dispense, or administer medications)
• Confidentiality agreement, tobacco-free campus acknowledgement, and hospital policies acknowledgement

Dress Code

• Navy blue or white scrubs, or a mix of the two
• Jackets must match the uniform in color and material. Fleece is not allowed.
• No crocs with holes