Med Surg/Ortho Registered Nurse
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

Job Opportunity: Med Surg Ortho RN

Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Specialty: Med Surg / Ortho
• Shift: 12-hour shifts (0630-1900, 1830-0700)
• Hours Guaranteed: 36 hours per week
• Scheduling: Self-scheduling
• Weekend Requirement: Every third weekend (Friday and Saturday considered weekend for night shifts)
• Floating: Will float to PCU and McDermott (behavioral health)
• Orientation: First week classroom orientation, then one 12-hour shift on the unit
• Dress Code: Navy Blue scrubs (scrubs provided)
• Unit Focus: Hourly rounding and bedside shift report
• Patient Population: Primarily Caucasian, low to middle class; includes patients who are homeless and/or have mental health or addiction history

Requirements

• Licensure: Iowa or compact nursing license required
• Experience: Minimum 1 year of unit experience (Med Surg / Ortho)
• Certifications: BLS required
• Exam: RN's must pass a 90% on an open book skills exam during orientation (failure results in termination)
• Driver's License: Required at submission to verify candidate is within 50 miles radius
• Radius Rule: Candidates must live within 50 miles and may not have worked full time, part time, or PRN within the past year at any facility associated with CommonSpirit (including CHI and/or Dignity)

Unit Information

• Beds: 28 plus 22 overflow
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:5
• Charge Nurse: Present on each shift and takes an assignment
• Support Staff: Nurse aides/patient care techs (ratio 1:10), monitor techs in ICU; monitors located at main nurses station
• Drip Management: RNs are not required to titrate drips
• Common Drips: Heparin, IV antibiotics, antithrombotics, narcotics

Patient Diagnoses / Types

• Total knees, total hips, shoulder replacements
• COPD, diabetes, wounds, IV infusions
• Dementia, oncology, fractures (hips, ankles)
• Sepsis, pneumonia, cholelithiasis
• Ambulatory dysfunction, appendicitis
• Acute respiratory distress, CHF
• ETOH/drug abuse

Policies

• Artificial nails prohibited in all patient care departments; refusal to remove will lead to contract termination

Additional Notes

• Looking for candidates who are flexible, self-directed, and enjoy change and learning
• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required for this position

This role is ideal for a Med Surg / Ortho RN with at least 1 year of unit experience, who holds a valid Iowa or compact license, and is comfortable working 12-hour shifts in a dynamic hospital environment with a diverse patient population.