Stepdown RN
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport Hospital

Step Down RN

Location and Setting

• Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut
• Facility type: Short-term acute care hospital
• Total staffed beds: 426
• Trauma designation: Level II Trauma Center
• Parking: Free
• Charting system: Epic (software familiarity, not a credential)

Assignment Details

• Contract length: 13 weeks
• Role: Step Down RN
• Shift: 3x12 days, 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM (12 hours per day, 36 hours per week)
• Schedule: Works every other weekend
• Float: Floats as needed within the department

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Connecticut
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) / Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Stepdown experience: minimum 2 years
• Stepdown experience within the last year
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• BLS issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• NIHSS (required for all RNs unless the unit notes otherwise; must include at least 2 CE hours from an acceptable provider, such as AACME, AHA, APEX, Blue Cloud, or HealthStream)
• Experience with Epic

Unit-Dependent Certifications

• PALS (AHA or ARC only): Listed in the source; check the unit description for requirements.
• NRP: Required for NICU.
• TNCC: Required for ER and preferred for Pediatric ER.
• CPI: Required for Psychiatric/Behavioral Health and preferred for ER RNs. The Children's Psychiatric Inpatient Service unit requires CPI non-violent crisis intervention training (8 hours).
• EFM: Listed in the source; check the unit description for requirements.
• Chemotherapy (CHEMO): Check the unit description to determine if required for Oncology. If required, it must be through ONS, except Pediatric Oncology, which must be through APHON.

Background and Verification

• 7-year criminal background check within 12 months of start, updated annually (includes SSN trace, counties lived/worked, statewide search, national sex offender, national criminal, federal extended, and DOJ sex offender searches)
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks within 30 days of start
• Primary source license verification within 30 days of start (NURSYS verification within 30 days)
• Highest level of education verification required; only accredited schools accepted; diplomas not accepted
• Internationally educated candidates need a foreign equivalency report and diploma
• Work history verification for the last 7 years (for start dates on or after 8/2/2024); attestations not accepted

Competencies and Exams

• Medication/pharmacology competency exam: Required within 12 months of start; 85% to pass. Not required for Case Managers. NICU requires 85% on the NICU pharmacology portion.
• Online color blind test: Required; 80% to pass. Tests dated before the signed contract are not accepted.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam: Required for RNs in telemetry, med-surg/tele, ER/ED, all ICUs, progressive care/PCU, stepdown, PACU, IR/Cath/EP, Endo/GI, and Labor and Delivery. Not required for NICU, Psych/Behavioral Health, Pediatrics, or Ambulatory.

Required Training and Attestations

• Language services training (not required at certain other campuses)
• CAUTI education (except PICU, NICU, and Psych/Behavioral Health)
• Suicide risk and environmental assessment training (RNs and allied)
• Mobile heartbeat alarm module (except ER/ED, Pediatrics, ICU, and NICU)
• Stroke education module and NIHSS module (RNs; NIHSS required prior to start)
• CLABSI prevention training (adult and pediatric)
• Preventing pressure injury training
• Patient transportation with oxygen education
• Pyxis ES MedStation modules (RNs)
• Baxter pump interoperability training (RNs)
• Patient bedside rounding module (RNs and CNAs, except OR, Behavioral Health, Ambulatory, and ER/ED)
• Ventricular assist device awareness module (RNs)
• AME blood administration module (all RNs except Case Managers, Behavioral Health/Psych, and Home Health); updated annually
• New employee orientation module (copy due by end of day on start date)
• 21st Century Cures Act module (RNs, except Home Health)
• ED Handbook (ED/ER RNs)
• eCart training module (all RNs)
• Chaperone policy training (RNs and allied)
• Fire safety module (RNs and allied)
• Optional software test for ER RNs with Epic experience; otherwise completed at orientation

Health Requirements

• Physical exam: Within 12 months of start; not updated annually
• Fit test (N95 mask): Within 12 months of start, updated annually; must be clean shaven. Not required for Case Managers or Nurse Navigators.
• TB: Negative T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold within 6 months of start, or 2 negative PPDs within 12 months of start. TB questionnaire required annually.
• Measles, mumps, rubella: Positive titer or 2 MMR vaccines (boosters required for low titers)
• Hepatitis B: Positive titer, proof of 3-dose series, or declination within 1 year of start
• Varicella: Positive titer, 2 vaccines, or physician-documented history (boosters required for low/equivocal results)
• 10-panel drug screen: Within 12 months of start; does not need annual updates
• Influenza: Vaccine or medical/religious exemption required during flu season (09/01 to 03/31); declinations not allowed; deadline 12/01
• Tdap: Highly preferred (not required) for Pediatric specialties, Labor and Delivery, and Postpartum; declination acceptable
• COVID: Preferred, not required; initial series collected if received

Work History and References

• 7-year work history on the employment application, with no gaps greater than 90 days
• Skills checklist within 12 months of start
• 2 professional references for travel acute care roles (within 3 years of start)