Registered Nurse – Step Down Unit
New Haven, Connecticut
Yale-New Haven Hospital

Registered Nurse – Step Down Unit (Travel/Contract)

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Day (3 shifts per week, 12 hours each, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Hours per Week: 36

Job Description

• Care for pulmonary ventilated patients and those undergoing ventilator weaning.
• Must have tracheostomy experience.
• Patient assignment ratio averages 1:5-6.
• Weekend work required every other weekend.
• Floating between related units may be frequent within scope of practice.
• First-time travel nurses accepted.
• Pending license accepted but must be active before start date.
• Locals are not accepted.
• Guaranteed hours.
• Ability to take up to 5 non-ventilator patient assignments as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Connecticut.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Progressive Care Unit (PCU) with at least 1 year of recent PCU experience.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Trach and ventilator experience required.
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification or competency.

Certifications & Competencies (may be required depending on unit)

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – check unit requirements.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – if applicable.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) – NICU only.
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) – required for ER, preferred for Pediatric ER.
• Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) – if applicable.
• Medication/Pharmacology Competency Exam – must pass with 85%.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG Competency Exam – required for Telemetry, ICU, ER, Progressive Care, Stepdown, and select units.
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) – required for Behavioral Health and preferred for ER.
• Color Blind Testing – required for all candidates starting 8/2/2024, must score 80% or higher.

Background & Compliance Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check within 12 months, including SSN trace, statewide, national sex offender, national criminal, federal extended, and education verification.
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required within 30 days of start.
• Foreign equivalency education evaluation required for internationally educated candidates.
• Verification of highest education level required.
• Sex offender search required.
• Employment application with 7-year work history and no gaps over 90 days.
• Work history verification for last 7 years (attestations not accepted).
• One supervisor reference within the past year required for Cardio Thoracic ICU only; otherwise, standard references apply.
• Skills checklist required within 12 months of start.
• Attestation of prior radiation exposure required for certain tech roles (not RN).

Health & Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 12 months of start.
• Fit mask test within 12 months, updated annually; must be clean shaven for fit testing.
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray documentation as applicable.
• Annual TB questionnaire.
• Immunizations or proof of immunity for:

  • Rubeola (Measles)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B (or declination within 1 year)
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap vaccination highly preferred for Pediatric, Labor & Delivery, and Postpartum specialties (Tdap declination accepted).
• 10-panel drug screen within 12 months of start.
• Seasonal flu vaccination or medical/religious exemption required during flu season (9/1 – 3/31). Declinations not allowed.
• COVID vaccine series preferred but not required.

Facility-Specific Training & Modules (must be completed and attested)

• Language Services Training (required for RNs).
• CAUTI Education Training (required except PICU, NICU, Psychiatry/Behavioral Health).
• Suicide Risk and Environmental Assessment Training.
• Mobile Heartbeat Alarm Module (except ER/ED, Pediatrics, ICU, NICU).
• Stroke Education (except Pediatric specialties and NICU).
• CLABSI Prevention Training.
• Preventing Pressure Injury Training.
• Patient Transportation with Oxygen Education.
• Pyxis ES MedStation Training.
• Baxter Pump Interoperability Training.
• Patient Bedside Rounding (except OR, Behavioral Health, Ambulatory, ER/ED).
• Ventricular Assist Device Awareness (except certain hospitals).
• AME Blood Administration Module (except Case Managers, Behavioral Health/Psych, Home Health).
• New Employee Orientation Module (must be completed by start date).
• 21st Century Cures Act Module (required for RNs except Home Health).
• ED Handbook (for ED/ER RNs only).
• eCart Training Module (not required for Pediatric, Periop/OR, Outpatient, Case Managers, Home Health).
• Chaperone Policy Training (required if gap >6 months or updated module).
• Fire Safety Module (effective 5/4/2026 and forward).

Additional Notes

• Candidate must provide photo ID matching legal name on first day.
• Floating between units NP1 & EP 4-6 may be frequent.
• Scrub color: Royal blue.
• Charting system: Epic.
• Parking cost: $125/month.
• Prior travel experience is not required.

This position offers a challenging opportunity for RNs with ventilator and trach experience to work in a high-acuity step down unit with a reputable acute care facility. The role requires flexibility, strong clinical skills, and compliance with extensive credentialing and training requirements.