Description

American Traveler is seeking an experienced RN for a Progressive Care Unit (PCU) position on an Ortho Neuro Surgical unit at a Level II Trauma, Magnet-designated teaching hospital in Rapid City, SD, requiring Epic experience and a minimum of 1 year of nursing experience.

Details

• Work setting is a Magnet-designated, Level II Trauma, teaching hospital with a Level II Pediatric Trauma and Primary Stroke and Chest Pain Center designation
• Unit is the Ortho Neuro Surgical (ONS) PCU, spanning 2 floors with 64 beds total
• Mixed-acuity unit covering Intermediate Care (IMC/stepdown), telemetry, and Med-Surg assignments — candidates must be comfortable taking Med-Surg assignments
• Patient population includes surgical (urology, prostatectomy, bowel obstruction, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, general abdominal), orthopedic (total joints, ortho trauma, fractures), neuro/spine (CVA/TIA, craniotomies, laminectomies, fusions, seizures, hematoma, AVM, AV fistula, halos), and general medical (COPD, CHF, renal failure, hepatic failure, GI disorders, DVTs, wound care, telemetry-monitored patients)
• RN patient ratio is 1:4 for PCU (applies even on Med-Surg assignments); CNA ratio is 1:8
• Charting systems include Epic (required), Alaris, and Omnicell
• 12-hour day shifts, 36 hours per week
• Weekend rotation: travelers may be scheduled up to 4 out of every 6 weekends, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
• Floating required to any adult inpatient unit (Med-Surg, Ortho/Neuro/Surgical, Heart and Vascular, Oncology, Observation) within scope of practice and in rotation with other travelers
• No mandatory on-call requirement

Requirements

• Active SD or compact RN license required
• Current certifications required: BLS, ACLS, and NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• Minimum 1 year of RN experience at an intermediate/stepdown level required
• Epic EMR experience required
• Completion of a board of nursing-approved nursing education program required
• Experience with IMC/stepdown acuity and neuro patient populations strongly preferred
• Must be comfortable with cardiac strip interpretation, chest tubes, trach care (no fresh traches), NGT placement and management, JP drains, PICC/Midline/CVL/PIV line management, wound vacs, wound care/dressing changes, medication administration, TPN/tube feeding, blood product transfusions, and urinary/fecal collection devices
• Drip titration experience required, including Heparin, Insulin, Cardizem, Amiodarone, and Levophed (up to 5 mcg); esmolol and other beta-blocker/antihypertensive drip experience preferred (training available if not)
• Must reside at least 100 miles from any Monument Health facility to be eligible for this position
• 2 professional references dated within the past year required for consideration
• DOB and SSN required for consideration

Additional Information

• Unit operates on a pod structure — 8 patients per pod staffed with 2 RNs and 1 Nurse Aide
• Support resources include non-patient-load charge nurses (one per floor), a daily Flex Nurse (10a–10p), a Resource/Nurse Clinician during day shift, phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, and hospitalist coverage
• Post neuro-intervention experience is preferred; education and resources are provided by the unit for candidates without this background
• Orientation consists of 2 days of facility/unit orientation (policies, protocols, online learning, classroom time) followed by 2 precepted shifts on the unit
• Schedules are issued in 6-week blocks
• Holiday RTO is not currently being accepted; any time-off requests must be submitted prior to offer
• Up to 1.5 weeks of time off may be approved during the contract; a contract extension may be required to accommodate
• No time off is approved during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally blackout period (approximately August 1–18)
• Monthly pain scoring audits are conducted; RNs must maintain at least 90% compliance
• May be expected to precept nursing students
• Scrub color: Navy Blue
• Free parking is available on-site
• First-time travelers are welcome to apply with at least 1 year of experience
• Former permanent staff must wait 1 full year before being eligible to return as a traveler