Observation Unit Nurse
Marquette, Michigan
UP Health System Marquette

Travel RN - Observation Unit Nurse

Location: Marquette, Michigan
Employment Type: Travel

Facility & Unit Overview

• 225-bed specialty care hospital with multiple specialty centers including Heart & Vascular, Cancer, Brain & Spine, Rehab, Behavioral Health, Digestive Health, Bariatric Medicine & Weight Management, Women's Health, Pediatrics
• Observation Unit: 10 beds, adult patients only (>18 years)
• Trauma Level: 2
• Patient Ratios: Approximately 1:5 (no defined ratios)
• Equipment: Cardiac monitor
• Electronic Health Record (EHR): Cerner
• Shift: 5 days / 5 nights, 12-hour shifts
• Weekly Guaranteed Hours: 72 hours per pay period (0.9 FTE)
• Weekend and holiday work required
• Float to Medical, Cardiac, Neuro-Ortho units required
• No mandated call requirements

Job Description

The Observation Unit Nurse provides high-quality, patient-centered nursing care for patients requiring short-term evaluation and treatment (typically 24–48 hours) to determine admission or safe discharge. The role involves rapid assessment, frequent reassessment, care coordination, and timely intervention for diverse medical and surgical conditions in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform timely and comprehensive initial and frequent patient assessments
• Implement and adjust care plans based on provider orders and clinical judgment
• Administer medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparation 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 EHR
• Facilitate efficient 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, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements
• Participate in performance improvement activities

Requirements

• Specialty: Observation patient care (adult patients)
• Years of Experience: Minimum 2 years in medical/surgical nursing (higher value from data)
• Preferred Experience: Telemetry experience preferred
• Certifications Required:

  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
  • NIH Stroke Scale Competency
  • Telemetry/ECG Competency
• Optional Certifications: TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course), ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course)
• Licensure: Registered Nurse (RN) license
• Shift Requirements: Must work weekends and holidays
• Float Requirements: Yes, to Medical, Cardiac, Neuro-Ortho units
• Personality Fit: Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment balancing compassionate, evidence-based care

Common Patient Diagnoses / Treatments

• Chest pain
• Asthma exacerbation
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• Abdominal pain
• Urinary issues
• Blood sugar issues
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Cellulitis
• Post-procedural monitoring
• Minor trauma

Contract Length

• 13 weeks

Dress Code

• Scrub color: Galaxy blue
• No unacceptable attire specified beyond standard professional dress code

This position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic observation unit within a specialty care hospital, providing critical short-term care and rapid patient assessment in a supportive team environment.