ED RN
Seattle, Washington
Virginia Mason Medical Center and Seattle Medical Center

ER RN

Overview

• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Contract Length: 13 weeks
• Shift: Nights, 12 hours, 36 hours per week
• Start Times: 7a, 9a, 11a, 1p, 3p, or 7p, typically fixed (the scheduler sets the schedule, and the block schedule is not guaranteed)
• Parking: Travelers must pay for parking until 7pm. Garage parking is available with daily or monthly options, or travelers can use public transit. Parking is not reimbursed.

Required Qualifications

• Licenses/Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS, PALS
• Driver's license: Required at time of submittal
• Experience: One year of experience
• Must-have skill: Behavioral health experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing traveler who has completed 1-2 assignments

Unit Details

• Patient volume: About 66 patients per day
• Ratio: 1:4
• Beds: 17 beds, which can flex to 22 with hallway beds if staffing allows
• Trauma and STEMI: No trauma level. STEMI patients are received. Comprehensive Stroke Center.
• Common diagnoses: Stroke, STEMI, sepsis, chest pain, psychosis, and a heavy behavioral health population. Rare pediatric patients (about 1%) are treated and transferred.
• Psych rooms: 4 designated rooms for psych patients
• Fast track: Patients are fast-tracked through the triage lobby.
• Triage: A separate triage area exists. Travelers may triage if they have that experience.
• Holding: Holds are intermixed within the ER. The ED nurse is the primary nurse.
• Security: In-house 24/7, housed in the ER
• Common drips: Insulin, cardiac drips, sedation, and critical drips
• Providers: Both ED physicians and mid-levels
• Monitoring: Philips monitors. Techs and RNs are both responsible for monitoring telemetry.
• Other staff: ED techs perform EKGs, blood sugar checks, settle patients and place them on monitors, provide 1:1 sitting, handle secretary duties, and assist with ADLs. Some are trained in phlebotomy and splinting. X-ray and CT are in the ER, and techs handle all transport.
• Respiratory therapy: RT is paged as needed and manages equipment, including intubation, CPAP, BiPAP, ABGs, and vent management. Some RNs perform ABGs and breathing treatments.
• Labs: RNs draw labs. Phlebotomy can assist when busy or with difficult sticks.

Schedule and Coverage

• Weekends: Every other weekend
• Holidays: Some holidays expected
• Call/Standby: None
• Floating: The floating requirements field says no. The job description states that if needed, travelers may be required to float to other facilities in Region One. Floats to non-primary facilities are not cost-free, so confirm details with the recruiter.
• Charge nurse: Charge nurses typically do not take an assignment. Travelers may be used as charge, more often at night. Let the manager know if you are willing.

Orientation and Process

• Orientation: One 12-hour shift with an experienced ED RN
• Scrub color: Royal Blue
• Process: Clinical profile review, followed by an interview with the manager

Culture

• Accountability and respect are priorities, and the team is described as strong.
• The manager is a former traveler and treats travelers as part of the team.
• Most travelers extend for as long as they can.