Job Title
Registered Nurse - Medical Surgical
Job Summary
Join a dedicated 25-bed Medical Surgical unit in Carbondale, Illinois, featuring 11 private and 7 semi-private rooms. This unit provides comprehensive care for a diverse patient population, with a primary focus on stroke patients who do not require TPA, as well as comfort care and hospice patients. The unit also frequently cares for a variety of post-operative patients, including those with amputations, surgical drains, chest tubes, and feeding tubes.
As a Registered Nurse on this unit, you will manage patients with complex medical conditions such as altered mental status, CIWA protocols, acute kidney injury (AKI), dialysis, and COPD exacerbations. You will be responsible for administering and monitoring treatments including heparin drips and advanced wound care. The typical nurse-to-patient ratio on nights is 5-6:1, with occasional assignments including one total care patient, requiring strong clinical judgment and comprehensive nursing skills.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide direct, comprehensive nursing care to a diverse patient population, including stroke, post-operative, comfort care, and hospice patients.
- Manage and monitor patients with various medical conditions such as altered mental status, CIWA protocols, AKI, dialysis, and COPD exacerbations.
- Administer and titrate medications, including heparin drips, and perform advanced wound care.
- Manage and monitor patients with drains, chest tubes, and feeding tubes.
- Conduct thorough patient assessments, develop individualized care plans, and implement nursing interventions in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
- Educate patients and their families on disease processes, treatment plans, and discharge instructions.
- Maintain accurate and timely electronic health records and documentation.
Required Qualifications
- Active Registered Nurse (RN) license.
- Ability to work three 12-hour shifts per week, including every other weekend and every other holiday.
- Minimum years of experience: Not specified.
Preferred Qualifications
- Stroke Certified.
- Prior experience with a diverse medical-surgical patient population, including stroke and post-operative care.
Skills & Competencies
- Clinical Skills: Advanced assessment, critical thinking, medication administration (including IV drips), wound care, post-operative care, stroke care, management of drains/tubes (chest tubes, feeding tubes), cardiac monitoring, respiratory assessment, pain management, end-of-life care.
- Equipment: IV pumps, patient monitoring systems, wound vacs.
- Soft Skills: Excellent communication, teamwork, empathy, adaptability, time management, problem-solving, ability to manage high-acuity patients.
Shift Details
- Shift Type: Nights (NOC)
- Shift Duration: 12 hours
- Days per Week: 3
- Work Schedule: Every other weekend and every other holiday required.
- Call Requirements: Not specified.
- Contract Length: 13 weeks
- Start Date: August 24, 2026
Licensing Requirements
- Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.