Medical-Surgical Observation Unit RN
Marquette, Michigan
UP Health System Marquette

Job Opportunity: RN - Med Surg (Observation Unit Nurse)

Location: Marquette, Michigan
Employment Type: Travel Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Facility & Unit Overview

• 225-bed specialty care hospital with multiple specialty centers including Heart & Vascular, Cancer, Brain & Spine, Rehab, Behavioral Health, Digestive Health, Bariatric Medicine & Weight Management, Women’s Health, and Pediatrics
• Observation Unit: 10 beds, adult patients only (>18 years)
• Trauma Level: 2
• Patient Ratios: Approximately 1:5 (no defined ratios)
• Electronic Health Record (EHR): Cerner
• Equipment: Cardiac monitor
• Shift: 5 days / 5 nights, 12-hour shifts
• Weekly Guaranteed Hours: 72 hours per pay period (0.9 FTE)
• Weekend and holiday work required
• Float Requirements: Must float to Medical, Cardiac, Neuro-Ortho units
• Dress Code: Galaxy blue scrubs

Role Summary

The Observation Unit Nurse provides high-quality, patient-centered nursing care for patients requiring short-term evaluation and treatment (typically 24–48 hours) to determine admission or safe discharge. The role involves rapid assessment, frequent reassessment, care coordination, and timely intervention for diverse medical and surgical conditions in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform timely and comprehensive initial and frequent patient assessments
• Implement and adjust care plans based on provider orders and clinical judgment
• Administer medications, treatments, IV therapies, and diagnostic preparation per protocol
• Monitor vital signs, labs, and diagnostic results; report changes promptly
• Provide patient education on diagnosis, treatment, medications, and discharge instructions
• Coordinate care with physicians, case management, and multidisciplinary teams
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in the EHR
• Facilitate efficient admission, transfer, and discharge workflows
• Support safe transitions of care including follow-up appointments and patient teaching
• Respond to urgent situations and perform emergency interventions within scope of practice
• Maintain compliance with infection control, patient safety, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements
• Participate in performance improvement activities to enhance patient experience and clinical outcomes

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Registered Nurse (RN) license
• Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIH Stroke Scale Competency, Telemetry/ECG Competency
• Preferred Certifications: TNCC, ENPC (optional)
• Minimum 2 years of experience in medical-surgical nursing (higher of 1 year med/surg and 2 years specialty experience)
• Must have at least 1 year of telemetry experience preferred
• Prior travel experience: Not explicitly required

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• Adult patients under observation status
• Common conditions include chest pain, asthma exacerbation, transient ischemic attack (TIA), abdominal pain, urinary issues, blood sugar issues, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE), cellulitis, post-procedural monitoring, and minor trauma

Additional Notes

• No guaranteed block scheduling
• No mandated call requirements

This position is ideal for experienced RNs comfortable working in a fast-paced observation unit with diverse adult patient populations and who are flexible with shifts and floating to related units.