Medical-Surgical Orthopedic RN
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

Registered Nurse (Med Surg Ortho)

Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Contract Length: 13 weeks (approximately 13 weeks)
Shift: 12-hour shifts (0630-1900, 1830-0700)
Hours Guaranteed: 36 hours per week
Weekend Requirement: Every third weekend (Friday and Saturday considered weekend for night shift)
Scheduling: Self-scheduling
Floating: Will float to Progressive Care Unit (PCU) and behavioral health unit

Unit Details

• Department: Medical-Surgical / Orthopedics
• Beds: 28 plus 22 overflow
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:5
• Nurse aides/patient care techs ratio: 1:10
• Charge nurse present on each shift and takes assignment
• Monitor techs available in ICU; monitors present at main nurses station on unit
• RNs are not required to titrate drips
• Common drips: Heparin, IV antibiotics, antithrombotics, narcotics

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• 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, congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Alcohol/drug abuse
• Primary patient population: Caucasian, low to middle class; includes homeless and patients with mental health and/or addiction history

Orientation & Training

• First week: Classroom orientation
• Followed by one 12-hour shift on the unit
• RN’s must pass a pass/fail exam during orientation (open book, 90% required to pass)

Dress Code

• Scrub color: Navy Blue

Requirements & Qualifications

• License: Iowa RN license or compact license required
• Experience: Minimum 1 year of unit experience in Med Surg/Ortho
• Certification: BLS required
• Driver’s license required at submission (used to verify candidate is within 50 miles radius)
• Fingernail policy: Artificial nails prohibited in all patient care departments; refusal to remove will lead to contract termination

Additional Notes

• Unit emphasizes hourly rounding and bedside shift report
• Candidates should be flexible, self-directed, and open to change
• Radius rule: Candidates must live within 50 miles and may not have worked full time, part time, or PRN within the past year at certain affiliated facilities

Prior travel experience: Not explicitly required.