Step Down Unit RN
Evansville, Indiana
Deaconess Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse – Step Down Unit

Location: Evansville, Indiana
Employment Type: Travel Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit & Shift Details

• Unit: Step Down Unit (19 beds; 8 Stepdown beds, 11 Med/Surg/Telemetry)
• Shift: 12-hour nights (6:30 PM – 7:00 AM)
• Float Requirements:

  • First to float within skillset
  • Possible float to nearby campuses (8-11 miles away) with 2-hour notice
  • Mid-shift float within same campus; cross-campus mid-shift float unlikely but possible
• Weekend/Holiday: Three weekends every six weeks; every other holiday
• On Call/Call Back: Not required
• Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours per week (except during holidays when unit is closed)

Experience & Requirements

• Specialty: Step Down Unit
• Years of Experience Required:

  • Minimum 2 years solid Stepdown experience plus 1 prior travel contract
  • OR 5 years solid Stepdown experience if no prior travel experience
• Prior Travel Experience: Required (must have completed at least 1 prior travel contract unless 5 years Stepdown experience)
• Charting: Recent EPIC experience required (checkoff class required)
• Licenses & Certifications:

  • Current active compact nursing license
  • AHA BLS, AHA ACLS, NIHSS certifications

Patient Population & Skillset

• Patient Types:

  • Post-procedure cardiac (cath/stents/interventions, pacers, ICD, ablation)
  • STEMI/NSTEMI care
  • Carotid endarterectomy
  • Sepsis
  • Neuro (CVAs, seizures, possible TBI)
  • DKA
• Required Skills:

  • Telemetry/12-lead EKG interpretation (travelers must pass telemetry tests)
  • Post heart cath care (femoral/TR bands)
  • Initiate and titrate drips (Cardizem, Amiodarone, Cardene, Nitro, Insulin, Heparin)
  • NIHSS and strong neuro assessments
  • Sepsis care
  • Chest tube management
  • Peripheral IV insertion
  • Strong assessment and critical thinking skills

Additional Information

• Patient Ratio:

  • Days: 1:5-6
  • Nights: 1:4 (Charge nurse will take patients; Stepdown RNs may take Med/Surg/Telemetry patients)
• Unit Culture:

  • Manager with 20+ years tenure and low turnover
  • Teaching hospital environment; may require precepting students and new hires
• Dress Code: Navy blue scrubs only; no competing health system or agency logos allowed
• Attendance Policy: 3 call-ins can result in termination
• COVID-19 Vaccine: Not required (subject to change)

This position is ideal for experienced Step Down Unit nurses with prior travel experience looking for a night shift travel contract in Indiana.