Telemetry RN
Bakersfield, California
Mercy Hospital Downtown

Tele 4SW Nurse - Bakersfield, CA

Contract Length

• 13 weeks

Unit Details

• 32 beds, all private rooms
• Nurse-to-patient ratios:

  • Telemetry patients: 1:4
  • MedSurg patients: 1:5
  • Mixed teams maintain a 1:4 ratio
• Common patient types:
  Acute/chronic medical conditions, post-surgical patients (including bariatrics and total joints), urology, gynecology, podiatry, general surgery, stroke patients, non-titratable drips, potential oncology patients

Required Certifications

• BLS (AHA)
• ACLS
• NIHSS (AHA or APEX)

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of nursing experience in specialty
• Cerner experience preferred
• Prior travel experience not explicitly required

Clinical Skills

• No titration of drips required
• Common set-rate drips: Cardizem, Amiodarone, Heparin
• Must be able to read and interpret all cardiac rhythms (using GE monitors)
• Comfortable caring for bariatric and total joint post-surgical patients

Staffing & Support

• House supervisor available 24/7
• Nurse Manager during business hours
• Nurse Shift Managers, Charge Nurse, and Break Nurse on each shift
• CNAs assigned based on census
• Tele/Monitor techs present on unit

Respiratory Equipment

• CPAP or BiPAP available per RT and MD orders
• No ventilators on unit

Scheduling

• 12-hour shifts: 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM and 7:00 PM - 7:30 AM
• Weekend requirement: 4 weekend shifts in a 4-week schedule

  • Weekend days: Fri/Sat for nights, Sat/Sun for days
• Holiday requirement: Minimum 1 major and 1 minor holiday
• No call required, but may be placed on standby with a 30-minute response time if called in

Floating

• Travelers are first to float
• Possible float locations: Mercy Downtown (6.5 miles away), any MS Tele unit, ICU for MedSurg Tele patients, ER for MedSurg Tele holds

Dress Code

• Navy blue scrubs required
• Undershirts must be navy, white, or black
• Scrub jackets must be navy
• No hoodies, sweatshirts, or sweat jackets allowed

Orientation

• 1-2 shifts with a preceptor

Additional Notes

• Warm and welcoming staff
• Must uphold evidence-based practices: bedside shift report, intentional hourly rounding, medication teaching including side effects
• Fast-paced unit with high surgical admission and discharge volume
• Strict attendance policy; punctuality is mandatory
• Night shifts every other week; travelers are first to float