Cardiac Stepdown RN
Santa Cruz, California
Dominican Hospital

Travel Nurse Opportunity: TCU/Stepdown RN

Location: Santa Cruz, California
Specialty: TCU/Stepdown (Cardiac Stepdown)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of experience in Cardiac Stepdown nursing
• Active California RN license
• Certifications required: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS
• COVID vaccine required
• Progressive Care Certification required if working as Charge Nurse
• Prior travel experience: Not specified (assumed not required)

Unit Details

• Unit Type: True Stepdown Unit (Telemetry, cardiac intervention, tele overflow)
• Beds: 20 telemetry beds, 16 cardiac intervention beds, 8 overflow telemetry beds
• Nurse-to-patient ratios: 1:3 or 1:4 depending on acuity
• EMR system: Cerner
• Charge Nurse role available (runs without patients)
• Nurse aides: 1 per 12 patients, 3 aides on full unit
• Orientation: 3 shifts on the unit

Work Schedule

• Shifts: 7am-7pm, 3pm-3am, 7pm-7am
• Weekend requirement: Every other weekend (Fri/Sat nights, Sat/Sun days)
• Holidays: Every other holiday on a rotating basis

Clinical Environment & Patient Care

• Monitor system: Phillips monitors; must be able to read and interpret cardiac strips
• Ventilation: No full ventilator patients; CPAP, BiPAP, and high-flow O2 present
• Support staff: Hospitalist or Intensivist in-house 24/7, IV team 8am-4pm, Respiratory Therapy 24/7, Pharmacy 24/7
• Floating: No full vent patients; floating includes CPAP, BiPAP, and high-flow O2 patients
• Common patient types:

  • Post cardiac catheterization (clean and intervention cases)
  • Post TEE, cardioversion, ablations
  • Patients with AICD, external temporary pacers, transcutaneous pacing
  • Chest tubes, tube feedings, multiple drains
• Medication titration: Must be fluent with drips including amiodarone, cardizem, nitro, pressors, dopamine, insulin, heparin, etc.

Additional Notes

• Stepdown nurses only; no med/surg or med/tele experience accepted
• Scrub color: Navy
• Must be comfortable with telemetry and cardiac intervention level care
• Every other weekend and holiday rotation required
• First to float on every other weekend day shift (7am-7pm)

This position is ideal for experienced cardiac stepdown nurses looking for a travel assignment in a telemetry-focused stepdown unit with a diverse patient population and strong interdisciplinary support.