PCU Telemetry Registered Nurse
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Berkeley Medical Center

Registered Nurse (Telemetry)

Location: Martinsburg, West Virginia
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit and Patient Care Information

• Unit: Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Telemetry
• Beds:

  • 2nd Floor: 20 private rooms (planned to become Stepdown unit with higher acuity patients)
  • 6th Floor: 22 beds (mix of private and semi-private), remains Telemetry acuity
• Patient Acuity: Telemetry level, with future Stepdown acuity on 2nd floor including management of drips such as ativan and insulin
• Common Diagnoses:

  • Elevated troponin, post-STEMI recovery, NSTEMI
  • Pre/post cardiac catheterization
  • Pacemakers, oncology patients (if unit is full)
  • Peritoneal dialysis (training provided)
  • Occasional post-surgical patients with cardiac issues or orthopedic hip cases
• Drips managed: Cardizem, Amiodarone, Labetalol, Dopamine, Dobutamine, Heparin, Integrilin (per protocol), Nitro (set rate)
• Ventilator support: Bipap, Cpap, High Flow managed by Respiratory Therapy (RT)
• Respiratory Therapy: In-house 24/7
• Hospitalist: In-house 24/7
• Pharmacy: In-house 24/7, Omnicell on unit during day

Shift and Scheduling

• Shift Length: 12-hour shifts (7:00 AM - 7:30 PM) for both day and night
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend (Nights: Fri/Sat; Days: Sat/Sun)
• Holidays: Travelers may be scheduled based on unit needs, though efforts are made to avoid holidays
• Scheduling: Requests entered via Kronos, approved at least 2 weeks in advance for 4-week blocks; block scheduling may be allowed
• Floating: Rare, but may float to ICU overflow or Ortho/MedSurg if needed
• Orientation: 1-2 days depending on experience

Staffing and Ratios

• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:5 for both day and night shifts
• Charge Nurse: May vary daily; sometimes a floating charge nurse covers both floors
• Nurse Aides: Typically 3 Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) per floor when fully staffed; sometimes only 1 PCT per floor

Certifications and Licensure

• Required Certifications:

  • BLS (Basic Life Support) - American Heart Association
  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) - American Heart Association
• First-time travelers are accepted

Clinical and Documentation

• Electronic Medical Record (EMR): EPIC
• Telemetry Monitoring: Phillips Cardiac Monitors with central monitoring station; data flows directly into EPIC
• Telemetry Strip Review: Nurses review and document strips every 4 hours in patient charts
• IV Team: None on unit; nurses manage drips per protocol

Additional Requirements and Notes

• Scrub Code: Navy blue scrubs or white jacket; undershirt white or navy; natural hair color required; tattoos must be covered if considered distasteful
• COVID-19 Vaccine: Fully vaccinated required (2 Moderna/Pfizer shots or 1 J&J shot) or approved medical/religious exemption
• Driver’s License: Must be from an address outside 50 miles of the facility
• Background Checks: Any background issues must be disclosed at submission
• Submission Limitations: Only 2 candidates submitted per opening; travel teams must be submitted together

Experience Requirements

• Specialty: Telemetry
• Years of Experience: 14 years (as indicated by specialty code "Tele - 14")

Prior Travel Experience

• No explicit prior travel experience required

This position offers opportunities for precepting and charge nurse roles, with a supportive team environment and a focus on telemetry and stepdown patient care.