Unit Notes
Med Sol prescreens, manager conducts a 2nd interview
****RN must pass the Advanced Dysrhythmia exam (83%) before signing the contract. They will be given three attempts to pass.****
Unit ER/ED
**Position will float between Bryan and College Station campus (16 minutes apart)**
Trauma Level? STEMI Receiving? Stroke Center? Level III Trauma, Primary Stroke center with comprehensive capabilities
# Beds/Trauma Bays 30 beds with 2 trauma bays 24 acute
Do you have a Fast Track yes- called "vertical care" here
Do you have a separate Triage area? If so, do you allow/require travelers to do Triage? "yes- This is a separate area that funnels in to the vertical care and acute care beds. They have a ""first eyes nurse"" that registers and triages all patients and gets them to the appropriate bed.
Travelers may be placed in triage after they have been on assignment for a while, their skills will be assessed before placing here. "
Do you have a separate holding area in the ER or are ER holds intermixed w/in the ER? Holds are intermixed, ED RNs will care for them
Do you have separate Psych/seclusion rooms? No- they are intermixed within the ER
Is Security in-house 24/7? Housed in the ER? Security is in house 24/7. The ER has an off duty officer 24/7
On average, how many patients do you treat in the ER/day? 135 patients daily on average
Nurse: Patient Ratios "Ratios vary depending on acuity
General acute care beds 1:3-4, Level I traumas 1:1 or 2:1 depending on acuity, TNK 1:1 for first hour, vertical care 1:6-8 "
Required Certifications (i.e., BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, NIHSS?) BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, NIHSS
Common diagnoses/Types of patients "Typical ER patients, N&V, chest pain, fever, Peds-URI sx, no pediatric hospital in community, 10-15% of patients are Peds; Geriatric-altered mental status; trauma-highest trauma area in the region service 9 counties, own EMS agency that runs 7 of the 9 counties, have their own helicopter as well, trauma types: ground level falls, MVAs, all terrain vehicles, assaults-GSW, stabbings
Chest tubes, rapid transfusions, intubated patients"
Experience or 'Must have' skills Must have 2 or more years of experience. Need to have worked in a facility with similar patient volume, trauma level, and size.
Common drips? Diltiazem, Cardene, Nitro, Sedation-propofol, fentanyl, levophed
EMR PulseCheck or Picis
ED Physician/Mid-Levels "1 MD 24/7 and a 2nd MD between 9AM-2AM
Midlevel- NP or PA staffed 24/7 with a 2nd midlevel staffed 10A-10P"
Charge Nurse/House Supervisor? Does the charge nurse take an assignment? Free floating charge- will take an assignment if needed. Charge will respond to codes and rapid responses on floors
Nurse aids/EMT/Paramedics/Patient Sitters? Ratios? Duties? "Patient Care Techs- hold 4 different positions: secretary, true tech, help first eyes location, sitter/mental health patient care advocate
Techs can do EKGs, wound care, help transport patients, ADLs, help set up all trauma cases- get chest tubes ready, get a-lines and central lines ready"
Is RT in the ER 24/7? Do they do ABG's, breathing Tx, & EKG's? Yes, assigned to ER. Do ABGs, split breathing tx between RNs and RT
RT Equipment (Vents, Cpap, BiPap, High Flow, etc.) Are RNs required to do anything with these besides trouble shoot? nasal cannula to vents
Do you have Monitor Techs in the ER? Are RNs required to read their own strips? What brand are the Tele monitors? RNs monitor their own tele
X-Ray or CT in the ER? Transport? Both in ER and have their own transporter
Does Phlebotomy draw labs or RN's draw? in ER 24/7
Shifts & Scheduling (Do you allow self-scheduling? Block scheduling?) Hybrid schedule- some self-scheduling and block scheduling ensuring needs are met. Scheduler will work with traveler to get schedule ironed out"
Weekend Requirements Every Other
Holiday Requirements rotate in with core staff- 1 major
Is there call or a standby requirement? no
Floating Requirements may float to be helping hands- will not have an assignment
Scrub Color/Dress Code: Navy - undershirts must be navy. Scrub jackets are optional, must be navy.
Unit/Department specific orientation 3 shifts in the ER
Additional Notes They have a good culture and team environment, have a Shared Governance structure, UBC is very active in speaking for the staff