Job Title: Registered Nurse
Profession: Nursing
Specialty: Step Down
Duration: 13 Weeks
Shift: Night
Hours per Shift: 12
Experience: Minimum of 2 years in a step-down or intermediate care nursing role
License: State license required (pending licenses accepted)
Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS
Must-Have:
- Epic experience
- Charge experience
- Patient ratio experience
Description:
This unit comprises 12 beds and utilizes critical care and neuroscience principles.
Common patient populations include individuals transferring from the Neuro ICU.
The unit cares for patients who have experienced neuro trauma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, or intracerebral hemorrhage.
Other care includes ENT patients with cancer who have had tumor resection and flap reconstruction, post-operative spine patients, and a range of neurological problems.
The patient-to-nurse ratio is 1:3.
The unit handles diagnoses such as neurosurgery, neuro trauma, strokes, head and neck tumor resection, spinal surgery, and spinal cord injury.
Specific skills required include aneurysm repair, arterial line management, BiPAP/CPAP management, blood product administration, and craniotomy care.
Nurses are expected to manage cardiac and vasoactive drips, IV insulin protocols, lumbar drains, and perform seizure disorder care.
Knowledge of isolation precautions, telemetry, and basic airway management is also essential.
The daily census averages around 10 patients.
Interdisciplinary support is provided by various teams, including physical therapy, respiratory services, and pharmacy.
Nurses must adhere to floating policies as needed within their scope of practice.
A 40-hour maximum for requested time off is allowed during the contract duration.
This role requires maintaining the highest standards of patient care and adherence to policies and protocols.