Registered Nurse, RN - Observation Unit

Join the innovative Observation Unit at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, a unique care environment designed to bridge the gap between the Emergency Department and inpatient services. Opened in February 2026, this growing 36-bed unit provides nurses with the opportunity to care for patients requiring short-term treatment, assessment, and stabilization in a fast-paced setting where clinical variety and teamwork are part of every shift.

This nursing opportunity offers:

• The fast pace and clinical variety of emergency care combined with the continuity and relationship-building of inpatient nursing
• Lower-acuity patients than a traditional inpatient unit while still utilizing strong assessment, prioritization, and critical-thinking skills
• Close partnership and collaboration with the Emergency Department to support patient throughput and seamless care transitions
• Frequent admissions and discharges that create a dynamic, fast-moving work environment
• Typical nurse-to-patient ratios of 4:1 to 5:1
• A collaborative and highly engaged team culture that values flexibility, communication, and helping one another succeed
• The opportunity to gain experience across Presbyterian Medical Center and Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital through floating opportunities when Observation Unit census is low
• Less floating when Observation census is high, allowing nurses to remain focused on their patient assignments
• The chance to be part of one of Novant Health's newest and most innovative nursing care models, with continued growth planned for the Observation program
• A night-shift schedule of 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM
• Four weekend shifts within a six-week scheduling period
• Two Monday shifts and two Friday shifts within each six-week schedule
• Rotating holiday coverage shared across the nursing team
• Professional development and career growth opportunities within Novant Health

Ideal Candidate

This opportunity is ideal for nurses with Medical-Surgical, Progressive Care, Telemetry, or Emergency Department experience who enjoy a fast-paced environment, thrive on patient flow and throughput, adapt quickly to changing priorities, and enjoy working as part of a collaborative, team-focused unit. Nurses who value variety, strong interdisciplinary partnerships, and the opportunity to expand their clinical experience across multiple inpatient settings will find the Observation Unit to be a rewarding place to grow their careers.

• Education: 4 Year / Bachelors Degree, preferred. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required. If your RN nursing license has been inactive, retired or lapsed for five years or more and you have not been licensed in another state during the last five years, successful completion of a Board approved refresher course is required prior to reactivating or reinstating your license. In order to be considered for current licensure status, you must apply for reinstatement within one year of completing the refresher course.
• Experience: One year relevant experience, preferred.
• Licensure/Certification: Current RN licensure in appropriate state, required.

As a Registered Nurse on the Observation Unit, you'll provide compassionate, patient-centered care to patients requiring short-term observation and treatment while collaborating closely with providers, Emergency Department teams, and interdisciplinary partners to support efficient patient progression.

In this role, you will:

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care for observation-level patients
• Monitor patient conditions and respond quickly to changes in clinical status
• Provide care for a diverse patient population requiring short-term treatment, testing, monitoring, and stabilization
• Partner closely with Emergency Department and inpatient teams to support seamless patient transitions
• Manage a high-volume admission and discharge environment while ensuring an exceptional patient experience
• Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, therapists, case managers, and fellow nurses to coordinate care plans
• Administer medications, treatments, and interventions in accordance with evidence-based practice
• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, treatment plans, and discharge instructions
• Utilize strong critical-thinking and prioritization skills to manage changing patient needs in a fast-paced environment
• Float to inpatient units at Presbyterian Medical Center and Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital when operationally needed
• Contribute to a culture of teamwork, flexibility, accountability, and remarkable patient care
• Support quality, safety, and patient satisfaction initiatives while delivering exceptional nursing care