Med Surg Ortho RN
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

Med Surg Ortho RN

Overview

• Role: Med Surg Ortho RN
• Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Contract length: 13 weeks
• Shift: Nights
• Hours: 12-hour shifts, 36 hours per week guaranteed

Required Qualifications

• Iowa or compact RN license
• BLS
• 1 year of unit experience
• Driver’s license required at submittal

Unit Details

• Department: Med Surg / Ortho
• Beds: 28 plus 22 overflow
• Typical ratio: 1:5
• Floating: first to float within scope

Schedule

• 0630-1900 and 1830-0700
• Self-scheduling
• Every third weekend; Friday and Saturday count as the weekend for nights

Clinical Setting

• Common patient types include total knees, total hips, shoulder replacements, COPD, diabetes, wounds, IV infusions, dementia, oncology, fractures, sepsis, pneumonia, cholelithiasis, ambulatory dysfunction, appendicitis, acute respiratory distress, CHF, and ETOH/drug abuse
• RNs do not titrate drips
• Common drips include heparin, IV antibiotics, antithrombics, and narcotics
• Charge nurse is present each shift and takes an assignment
• Nurse aids/patient care techs are on the unit at a 1:10 ratio
• Monitor techs are in ICU; monitors are at the main nurses station

Orientation

• First week is classroom orientation, followed by one 12-hour shift on the unit

Additional Notes

• Navy blue scrubs
• Artificial nails are prohibited in patient care areas
• RTO must be submitted upfront; additional RTO will not be approved
• Candidates must not be full time, part time, or PRN with any facility associated with CommonSpirit, including CHI and/or Dignity, within the past year
• Pass/fail open-book exam during orientation; a 90% is required to pass