ER RN
Long Beach, California
Saint Mary Medical Center

ER RN (Registered Nurse)

Location: Long Beach, California Contract Length: 13 weeks Shift: Days, 12-hour shifts (36 hours/week)

Required Qualifications

• Active BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NIHSS certifications
• Active California RN license
• 5 years of previous ED experience (source lists 3-5 years; the higher value is used)
• Must be available to work 2 of the 3 major holidays

Schedule

• Shift options: 0630-1900, 0730-2000, 0930-2200, 1130-2400, 1430-0300, 1830-0700
• Every other weekend
• Holidays rotate with core staff

Unit Details

• Unit: ER
• Beds/trauma bays: 26
• Fast track: Yes, 5 beds (2 exam, 3 bed)
• Psych/seclusion rooms: No separate rooms
• Patient volume: 40-160 patients per day; approximately 55,000 visits per year
• Ratios: 3:1 and 4:1
• Floating: No
• Charge nurse: Yes, with no patient assignment
• Orientation: 1 day with supervisor, 2 days with preceptor

Staffing and Support

• ED physicians/mid-levels: 2-3 MDs plus mid-levels
• Nurse aides: Sitter and patient care
• EMAs (Emergency Medical Aides): EKGs, splints, first aid
• Security/patient sitters: 1 always in the waiting area
• Monitoring: No monitor techs; RNs must read and interpret their own strips. The RN monitor station is in the center of the ER "fish bowl" area.
• Lab draws: RNs perform all lab draws
• IV team: None
• Respiratory therapy: 24/7
• Pharmacy: 24/7
• Ventilators: Yes
• Scrub color: Navy blue for RNs, hunter green for aides

Patient Population

• Level 2 trauma center and STEMI receiving center; also a CVA receiving center
• Adults and pediatrics; critical pediatric patients are sent to a nearby children's hospital
• Care ranges from minor complaints to trauma
• Patient population is of low socioeconomic status, with homelessness and drug abuse commonly seen