Stepdown RN
New Haven, Connecticut
Yale-New Haven Hospital

Registered Nurse – Step Down

Location: New Haven, Connecticut Facility type: Short-term acute care, Level I Trauma Center, 1,567 staffed beds Start date: 12/18/2026 Contract length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Shift: Day shift, 4x12 hours (7:00–19:30), 48 hours per week
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: Average 1:5–6
• Weekends: Every other weekend
• Guaranteed hours: Yes
• On-call: Not required
• Block scheduling: Not accommodated
• Floating: May float within scope to meet facility needs
• First-time travelers: Accepted
• Scrub color: Royal blue
• Return-to-origin (RTO) restriction: RTO greater than 7 days requires approval

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Connecticut
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing
• Stepdown experience (2 years of experience)
• Stepdown experience within the last year
• BLS issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• NIHSS

Certifications and Competencies

• ACLS: Required per unit description (AHA or ARC only)
• PALS: Required per unit description (AHA or ARC only). Not required for Pediatric Stepdown.
• NIH Stroke Certification: Required for all RNs unless excluded. Not required for pediatric, case management, behavioral health, or home health. Required for Labor and Delivery. Must include at least 2 CE hours from an acceptable provider.
• Medication/pharmacology competency exam: Must score 85% to pass, completed within 12 months of start. Not required for case managers.
• Color blind test: Must score 80% or higher
• EKG (dysrhythmia) competency exam: Required for telemetry, ED, ICU, progressive care/PCU, stepdown, PACU, IR/cath/EP, endoscopy/GI, and Labor and Delivery. Not required for NICU, psych/behavioral health, pediatric, or ambulatory units.

Health and Immunizations

• Physical exam: Within 12 months of start
• Drug screen: 10-panel, within 12 months of start (rapid 10-panel accepted)
• TB: Negative T-Spot or QuantiFERON within 6 months of start, or 2 negative PPDs at least 1 week apart within 12 months. Positive history requires a chest X-ray within 1 year and a TB questionnaire updated annually.
• TB questionnaire: Required, updated annually
• Measles, mumps, rubella: Positive titer or 2 MMR vaccines. A low titer may require boosters.
• Hepatitis B: Positive titer, proof of 3-dose series, or declination within 1 year of start
• Varicella: Positive titer, 2 vaccines, or physician-documented history
• Flu vaccine: Required during flu season (09/01–03/31) or a medical or religious exemption. Declinations are not allowed.
• N95 fit test: Within 12 months of start, updated annually. Must be clean shaven for testing.
• Tdap: Highly preferred, not required. A declination is acceptable.
• COVID vaccine: Preferred, not required

Background and Credentialing

• Criminal background check: 7-year check within 12 months of start, updated annually
• Sanction checks (EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG): Within 30 days of start
• Primary source verification and NURSYS verification: Within 30 days of start
• Skills checklist: Within 12 months of start

Facility Training Modules

Completed through facility attestation before start (applicability varies by unit):

• Language Services Training
• CAUTI education
• Suicide Risk and Environmental Assessment
• Mobile Heartbeat Alarm (not required for ER/ED, pediatrics, ICU, or NICU)
• Stroke education and NIHSS module (NIHSS required before start)
• CLABSI prevention
• Preventing pressure injury
• Patient transport with oxygen
• Pyxis MedStation
• Baxter pump interoperability
• Patient bedside rounding
• Ventricular assist device awareness
• Blood administration (annual update)
• New employee orientation module (due by end of day on start date)
• 21st Century Cures Act
• eCart
• Chaperone policy
• Fire safety