Observation Unit Registered Nurse
Omaha, Nebraska
The Nebraska Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse – Observation Unit

Location

• Omaha, Nebraska

Employment Type

• Travel/Contract
• Contract length: 13 weeks

Work Schedule

• Day shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM – 7:30 PM)
• Option for 36 or 48-hour shifts
• Weekend requirement: 4 weekend shifts out of 8 possible in a 4-week period (Days: Saturday and Sunday; Nights: Friday and Saturday nights)
• Holiday requirement: Must work 2 out of 3 major holidays

Unit Description

• Observation Unit cares for patients needing evaluation and treatment between 8 and 48 hours
• Common conditions: chest pain, asthma, abdominal pain, kidney stones, minor infections
• Treatments include IV antibiotics, fluids, insulin drips, nitroglycerin for blood pressure, total protein and lipids monitoring
• Nurse-to-patient ratios: 1:5 during days, 1:6 at nights (rarely 1:7 nights)
• Floating within scope required; may include multiple units and a different campus

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse license in Nebraska
• Minimum 1 year of telemetry experience within the last year
• Experience in Direct Observation Unit (DOU)
• One completed travel nursing assignment
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Experience with Epic electronic health record system
• Knowledge and certification in NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Facility and Work Environment

• Care teams include CNAs, care techs, transport team, paramedics, and some LPNs
• Scrubs: Mandatory Steele gray scrubs with facility logo (provided after confirmation)
• Parking: Permit available (~$55/month) or daily parking rates apply

Compliance and Documentation Requirements

• Government-issued photo ID required
• Background check within 30 days of start, updated annually (includes multi-county, statewide, nationwide, and federal checks)
• SAM and OIG checks required within 30 days of start and every 30 days thereafter
• Education verification required
• State-specific abuse/neglect registry check required within 30 days of start
• Primary source license verification and NURSYS verification required prior to start
• Annual physical exam and fit mask test required (fit test must be updated annually)
• Immunizations and health screenings required:

  • Tdap within last 10 years
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray with TB questionnaire if positive history
  • 2 MMR vaccines or positive titers (boosters if low/equivocal titers)
  • Hepatitis B titer or declination
  • 2 Varicella vaccines or positive titer (boosters if low/equivocal titers)
  • Drug screen within 60 days of start, updated annually
  • Flu vaccine preferred (documentation or declination required)
  • COVID vaccine preferred; medical/religious exemptions accepted
• Annual skills checklist required
• References: 2 work references from past 2 years (1 if not a current traveler)
• Orientation safety manual acknowledgement required

Additional Notes

• Up to two weeks of Return to Origin (RTO) time permitted; must be requested with application
• Eye exam required only for OR staff (not applicable here)
• Facility is a top-rated acute care hospital with a teaching and research focus

This summary includes all relevant details for healthcare recruiters and nurses considering this travel RN position in the Observation Unit.