ER Holding RN
Albuquerque, New Mexico
University of New Mexico Hospital

Registered Nurse – ER Holding

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Contract Length: 13 weeks (new contracts and extensions must be at least 10 weeks) Employment Type: Travel/Contract

Schedule and Hours

• Shift: Day, 4x12 hours, 7:00–19:30
• Hours: 12 per day, 48 per week
• Guaranteed hours: Contracted hours of 36, 48, or 40 per week. The facility may call off 3 times during the 13-week assignment.
• Holidays: No holiday time off for December starts. Must work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
• Time off: Requests greater than 7 days require approval.
• On-call: Not required.
• Block schedule: The facility will consider it.
• Relief charge: May be required. Must be willing to work relief charge as needed.

Unit and Patient Care

• Unit: Adult Admission Inpatient Unit (AAU), a fast-paced admission unit next to the Emergency Department that functions like an ED holding unit
• Beds: 17 beds plus up to 8 hall beds
• Ratio: 1 RN to 4–5 patients
• Patient population: Diverse, including all specialties except ICU-level patients
• Work demands: Frequent turn and burn, both transferring patients out and admitting patients in. Patients may move to one of 11 progressive care units.
• Float scope: Must be willing to float to the ED for admitted patients, to the ICU for SAC (sub-acute care) assignments, and to any inpatient PCU area.

Required Qualifications

• Licensure: Valid RN license in New Mexico
• Experience: 1 year of Emergency Department (ED) experience, completed within the last year
• Travel experience: One completed travel assignment
• Education: Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Driver's license: Valid non-local driver's license required. ID cards are not accepted.
• Telemetry: Ability to monitor and interpret telemetry
• Dysrhythmias: Ability to interpret and manage dysrhythmias
• Certifications: ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC)
• Certifications: BLS (Basic Life Support) issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC)
• Certifications: NIHSS (NIH Stroke Scale) certification

Certifications

• Required: ACLS (AHA or ARC; RQI not accepted), BLS (AHA or ARC; RQI not accepted), NIH Stroke Certification (any vendor accepted)
• Required or preferred by unit (confirm per unit description): PALS, NRP (required for NICU, L&D, and Mother/Baby), TNCC, EFM, ENPC, Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB), CPI
• Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB): Required for RNs working in behavioral health units, including pediatric and home health. Valid for 2 years. Can be completed onsite if not held before start.

Competency Exams

• Medication/pharmacology and general competency exams: Passing score is the Angoff score if listed, otherwise 80%.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG exam: Required for the Adult Admissions Inpatient PCU. Passing requires 80% overall and 100% on the lethal arrhythmia section. The first attempt must be completed within 4 days of signing. Two attempts are allowed. Returning candidates need to retake it only if more than 1 year has passed since their last assignment.
• Arrhythmia attestation: Review and sign if required for the unit. Topics include normal sinus rhythm, lethal rhythms, atrial rhythms, heart blocks, artifact, and fast, slow, or absent rhythms.

Pre-Start Requirements

• Background check: 7-year criminal check within 30 days of start, updated annually. Must cover all locations lived or worked in the past 7 years.
• Other screenings: EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG within 1 year of start
• Verifications: Education verification required. Diploma or transcript may be used if third-party verification cannot be completed.
• Fingerprinting: Required for NM Department of Health clearance, completed onsite during orientation. Not required again if completed within the past 12 months.
• Social Security card: Required
• Drug screen: Negative within 30 days of start. Instant drug screens not accepted. Panel includes ecstasy, amphetamines, opiates, barbiturates, methadone, benzodiazepines, phencyclidine, cocaine, and propoxyphene.
• Physical exam: Within 1 year prior to start. Not required to be updated annually.
• TB: Negative QuantiFERON, T-spot, or PPD within 1 year of start. PPD must have a mm reading. Past positive responders need a negative chest X-ray within a year, a TB questionnaire within a year, and proof of past positive status.
• Immunizations:

  • Measles, mumps, and rubella: 2 vaccines or a positive IgG titer
  • Varicella: 2 vaccines or a positive IgG titer. History of disease and Shingrix are not accepted.
  • Hepatitis B: Declination, series, or titer
  • Flu: Required year-round and must be on file before start. Exemptions for personal reasons are accepted.
  • COVID: Job description lists vaccination as required, with religious and medical exemptions accepted. The facility documentation states COVID is no longer required. Confirm before submitting.
• Fit testing: Required within 1 year. Acceptable N95 masks: 1870+, 1860, 1860s, V-Flex 1804, V-Flex 1804s.
• Forms and attestations: Orientation safety manual acknowledgment, welcome presentation acknowledgment (before start), traveler compliance form, background registration, emergency contact form, and facility EMR training attestation (required for RNs starting with the 8/4/25 orientation group; candidates may test out of training)
• Not required: Work experience checklist and confidentiality statement

Hospital Highlights

• Facility type: Level I trauma center, children's hospital, teaching hospital, short-term acute care
• Staffed beds: 554
• Charting system: Cerner
• Scrubs: Black, not provided
• Parking: No fee
• Locals: Does not accept locals within 100 miles
• First-time travelers: Accepted
• Travel break: A 6-month break is required after 4 consecutive assignments or after reaching one year of travel, whichever comes first