Registered Nurse - Med Surg Observation Unit
Marquette, Michigan
UP Health System Marquette

Registered Nurse – Med Surg (Observation Unit)

Location: Marquette, Michigan
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: 5 days / 5 nights, 12-hour shifts
Weekly Hours: 36 hours (72 hours per pay period, 0.9 FTE)
Weekend/Holiday Requirement: Must work weekends and holidays
Float Requirement: Yes, float to Medical, Cardiac, Neuro-Ortho units

Unit Overview

• Observation Unit with 10 beds
• Adult patient population only (18 years and older)
• Trauma Level 2 facility
• Patient ratio approximately 1:5 (no defined ratios)
• Equipment includes cardiac monitors
• Electronic Health Record system: Cerner
• Common diagnoses: chest pain, asthma exacerbation, TIA, abdominal pain, urinary issues, blood sugar issues, DVT/PE, cellulitis, post-procedural monitoring, minor trauma
• Fast-paced environment focused on short-term evaluation (24–48 hours) to determine admission or discharge

Job Description / Key Responsibilities

• Perform timely initial and frequent patient assessments
• Implement and adjust care plans based on provider orders and patient condition
• Administer medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparations per protocol
• Monitor vital signs, labs, and diagnostic results; report changes promptly
• Provide patient education on diagnosis, treatment, medications, and discharge instructions
• Coordinate care with physicians, case management, and multidisciplinary teams
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in the EHR
• Facilitate admission, transfer, and discharge workflows
• Support safe 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, patient safety protocols, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements
• Participate in performance improvement activities to enhance patient experience and clinical outcomes

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Michigan
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Minimum 1 year of medical-surgical nursing experience, including experience within the last year
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
• National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification

Additional Information

• Orientation occurs bi-weekly
• Dress code: galaxy blue scrubs
• No mandated call requirements
• Attendance policy:

  • Second absence results in formal warning
  • Third absence may result in contract termination unless otherwise agreed
  • All absences must be made up to maintain contracted hours
• No guarantee on block scheduling

Personality Fit

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment
• Compassionate, patient-centered approach with strong clinical judgment
• Team player comfortable coordinating with multidisciplinary teams

This position offers an opportunity to work in a specialty observation unit within a regional hospital setting, providing care to a diverse adult patient population requiring short-term evaluation and treatment.