Registered Nurse Step-Down Unit
Waco, Texas
Ascension Providence Hospital

Job Opportunity: RN Step Down

Location: Waco, Texas
Employment Type: Long-Term Assignment (LTA)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Specialty & Experience Requirements

• Specialty: RN Step Down
• Minimum Years of Experience: 3 years
• Required Skills/Experience:

  • HFNC (High Flow Nasal Cannula)
  • BIPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)
  • Stable GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test) Management
  • Post-operative care for CABG, AVR, MVR (POD#1)
  • Cardiovascular & Vascular experience including AAA repair, lobectomy, CEA
  • Management of NSTEMI, STEMI, ACS
  • Pacers, sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), post DKA, respiratory failure, tracheostomies

Prior Travel Experience

• No explicit requirement for prior travel experience mentioned

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Current RN license with primary source verification (within 30 days prior to start)
• BLS (AHA certified)
• ACLS (AHA certified)
• Nursys verification (within 30 days prior to start)
• Specialty exam demonstrating competency in area of specialization (minimum 80% passing score)
• NIH Certification (updated yearly or every 2 years depending on group)
• Ascension Core Competencies (HIPAA, Joint Commission NPSG, OSHA topics; minimum 80% score)
• Ascension EKG Exam (minimum 80% passing score)
• Fit Test (annual requirement)

Health & Immunization Requirements

• MMR: Proof of two vaccines or positive IGG titer (no declinations accepted)
• Hepatitis B: Documentation of vaccination series completion or signed declination
• Influenza Vaccine: Required during flu season (Oct 1 - Mar 31); declinations accepted with mask requirement
• Positive IGRA or PPD results, chest X-ray within 1 year, and annual TB questionnaire
• Varicella: Proof of two vaccines, serological immunity, or history verified by healthcare provider (no declinations accepted)
• Tdap: Valid within 10 years (no declinations accepted)
• Health Statement or physical exam prior to assignment and updated annually

Additional Onboarding & Compliance Requirements

• Signed Assignment Agreement
• Ascension Resume/Profile submission
• Two professional references prior to first assignment
• Criminal background check including SSN trace, OIG search, National Sex Offender Registry (updated annually)
• Employment verification for past 7 years (updated annually)
• Education verification relevant to clinical work (within 90 days of start)
• Drug screening: 12 panel urine drug screen within 30 days prior to start, updated annually
• Driver’s License/State ID verification
• Various Ascension-specific onboarding modules and checklists (including Epic Test-Out, Skills Checklist, Nursing Contract Worker Onboarding, etc.)

Summary

This is a 13-week long-term RN Step Down assignment in Waco, Texas requiring at least 3 years of relevant experience in cardiovascular and vascular nursing care with multiple certifications and immunizations mandatory prior to start. Prior travel experience is not explicitly required. The role demands strong clinical skills in managing complex cardiac and respiratory patients post-surgery and acute events. Compliance with extensive onboarding, credentialing, and health requirements is essential.