Job Title
Medical Surgical Registered Nurse
Job Summary
Join a dynamic 25-bed Medical Surgical unit in Carbondale, Illinois, specializing in a diverse patient population. This unit features 11 private and 7 semi-private rooms, providing comprehensive care for a wide range of medical conditions. The primary patient population includes stroke patients not requiring TPA, comfort care, and hospice patients, alongside a variety of post-operative cases.
As a Medical Surgical Registered Nurse, you will manage patients with complex needs, including those with amputations, drains, chest tubes, feeding tubes, heparin drips, wound care requirements, altered mental status, CIWA protocols, AKI, dialysis, and COPD exacerbations. This is a 13-week night contract, offering an opportunity to provide high-quality patient care within a supportive environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive nursing care to a diverse medical-surgical patient population.
- Manage and monitor stroke patients not requiring TPA.
- Care for post-operative patients, including those with amputations, drains, chest tubes, and feeding tubes.
- Administer and monitor heparin drips.
- Perform advanced wound care and dressing changes.
- Assess and manage patients with altered mental status and CIWA protocols.
- Care for patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and those undergoing dialysis.
- Manage patients experiencing COPD exacerbations.
- Provide compassionate comfort care and hospice support.
- Maintain a nurse-to-patient ratio of 5-6:1 on night shifts, occasionally caring for a total care patient.
Required Qualifications
- Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois.
- Current NHISS certification.
- Current Stroke certification.
- Ability to commit to a 3x12-hour shift schedule, including every other weekend and every other holiday.
Preferred Qualifications
Not specified.
Skills & Competencies
- Proficiency in stroke assessment and management (non-TPA).
- Expertise in post-operative care, including managing various drains, chest tubes, and feeding tubes.
- Competence in IV medication administration, including heparin drips.
- Strong wound care and assessment skills.
- Ability to manage patients with altered mental status, including CIWA protocols.
- Experience with AKI, dialysis, and COPD exacerbation patient care.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, diverse medical-surgical environment.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Shift Details
- Shift Type: Nights (NOC)
- Shift Duration: 12 hours
- Days per Week: 3
- Contract Length: 13 weeks
- Start Date: 2026-09-07
- Weekend Rotation: Every other weekend
- Holiday Rotation: Every other holiday
- Call Requirements: Not specified.
Licensing Requirements
- Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Illinois.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
- NHISS certification.
- Stroke certification.