Step Down/Telemetry Registered Nurse
Henderson, Kentucky
Methodist Hospital

Registered Nurse – Step Down Unit

Location: Henderson, Kentucky
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: 12-hour nights (6:30 PM – 7:00 AM)
Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours per week (48 hours upon request)

Job Description

• Provide nursing care on a Step Down/Telemetry unit caring for patients with conditions such as sepsis, CHF, COPD, DKA, cirrhosis, dementia, and post-surgical cases (urology, abdominal, ortho).
• Manage drips including insulin, heparin, and cardiac medications.
• Float within skillset primarily on the home unit; potential float to nearby campuses (8-11 miles away) with 2-hour notice. Mid-shift floats within the same campus are common; cross-campus mid-shift floats are rare but possible.
• Every third weekend and every other holiday required.
• May be required to precept students and new hires.
• Must wear navy blue scrubs without competing health system or agency logos.
• Teaching hospital environment with a strong, experienced nursing team and excellent retention.

Required Qualifications

• Current active compact RN license.
• Certifications: AHA BLS, AHA ACLS, and NIHSS.
• Minimum 2 years RN experience, including at least 1 year in Step Down/Progressive Care Unit (PCU).
• At least 1 prior travel assignment required.
• Recent EPIC charting experience (checkoff class required).
• Ability to interpret telemetry and pass telemetry competency tests.
• Skills to initiate and titrate insulin, heparin, and cardiac drips.
• Strong assessment and critical thinking skills.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to manage change well.

Preferred Skills

• Peripheral IV insertion.
• Management of stable home ventilators.
• Chest tube and indwelling drain care.
• Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI).
• Administration of stable drips (e.g., Lasix, Protonix).
• Blood product administration.
• Continuous BiPAP management.
• Neutropenic precautions.

Unit Information

• Step Down Unit: 10 beds, nurse-to-patient ratio 1:4-5 (days), 1:5-6 (nights).
• Telemetry Unit: 15 beds, nurse-to-patient ratio 1:5-6 (days), 1:6 (nights).
• Charge nurse rarely takes patients on day shift but does on night shift.

Additional Notes

• No local candidates within a 40-mile radius will be considered.
• Overtime applies after 52 hours on 48-hour contracts.
• On-call and call-back not required.
• COVID-19 vaccine not currently required (subject to change).
• Three call-ins may result in termination.
• Orientation includes weekly sessions through July.
• Guaranteed hours may vary during holidays when the unit is closed.