Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Nights, 12 hours per day, 36 hours per week
Unit Overview
Unit: 3A (Tele)
Beds: 26
Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:5 or 1:6
Common Diagnoses and Patient Types: Med Surge, Gastro, Telemetry
Common Titratable or Set-Rate Drips: Heparin, Nitroglycerin, Cardizem
Required Qualifications
Certifications: BLS, ACLS
Experience: 1 year (listed under "Must have" skills)
Drip Titration: RNs are required to titrate drips.
Clinical Responsibilities
Charge Nurse: A charge nurse works each shift and also takes patient assignments.
Patient Care Techs: Aides are on the unit, sometimes at a 1:17 ratio, though a 1:13 ratio is preferred. They handle vitals, glucose checks, baths, patient walking, I&Os, and drain emptying.
Respiratory Equipment: The unit uses BiPap, C-Pap, and High Flow O2. RNs are not required to do anything with this equipment beyond troubleshooting.
Telemetry Monitoring: There are no telemetry monitor techs. RNs do not read the strips but must know the rhythm.
Call or Standby: Not required.
Scheduling
Self-Scheduling: Permitted, but a balanced schedule must be maintained, and some days may change to balance it.
Weekends: Every other weekend, or 2 weekend shifts in a two-week period.
Holidays: 2 summer holidays and 3 winter holidays. Winter holidays include Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
Floating: RNs may be expected to float to other departments.