Observation Unit

Registered Nurse (RN) - Short Stay Observation Unit

Looking for a nursing role that’s fast-paced, diverse, and rewarding? Mercy Cedar Rapids is hiring Registered Nurses — experienced or new graduates — to join our 28-bed Short Stay Observation Unit. Not every hospital has a unit like this. This unique unit cares for patients who need brief hospital stays (24-48 hours) after the Emergency Department or surgery. You’ll work with a wide variety of patients including post-op ortho, urology, cardiology, and acute pain.

It’s an opportunity to build a broad skill set across multiple specialties while helping patients transition safely and confidently back home.

Schedule That Fits Your Life:
Fri/Sat or Sat/Sun Weekend Option Nights 7p-7:30a! Weekdays free for family, school, or personal time.

Why Mercy & the Short Stay Observation Unit:

• Open to both experienced nurses and new graduates
• Hands-on orientation and mentorship program
• Opportunities to grow across multiple specialties
• A supportive team environment where your voice matters

Mercy Cedar Rapids is an independent locally-managed healthcare system that has served the community for 120+ years.

What You’ll Do as an RN in the Short Stay Observation Unit:

• Deliver safe, high-quality patient-centered care
• Monitor patients recovering from surgery, illness, or acute pain
• Educate patients and families so they feel confident at discharge
• Collaborate closely with physicians, techs, and fellow nurses
• Document accurately and communicate clearly at hand-offs
• Respond quickly to changes in patient condition and emergencies
• Foster a respectful, compassionate, and team-focused environment

Take the Next Step:
Keep reading for the full-length job description and continue to create/login to your Mercy Work Day account and complete an application.

Work Shift:

Weekend Option

Scheduled Weekly

Hours:

24

Summary:

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient-centered care by being a competent, respectful, and compassionate professional who is able to safely, appropriately, accurately, efficiently, and independently follow Mercy's standards along with policies and procedures while caring for patients. The Registered Staff Nurse works with the unit-specific team members to identify clinical problems, develop a plan, and educate patients and families.

Job Description:

• Ensure that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families, and co-workers at hand-offs and other times as needed.
• Demonstrates competent assessment, planning, intervention, coordination, and evaluation skills based on the individual patient plan of care.
• Continually assesses patient and family needs in order to provide quality care based on a patient-centered care model.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills and judgment necessary to implement a patient plan of care, nursing interventions, and procedures.
• Maintains accurate and real-time documentation of nursing care provided to ensure the integration of information for use by the healthcare team according to hospital policy and procedure related to documentation parameters.
• Functions as a role model for current and new staff by creating a healthy work environment to facilitate the department's or unit's ability to meet identified goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Directs other licensed and non-licensed personnel in the provision of care to patients as assigned.
• Demonstrates effective and age-appropriate communication as well as the ability to understand the needs of the patient including non-verbal communication, fears, anxieties, and language/cultural barriers.
• Responds within scope of practice to emergencies and life-threatening conditions.
• Adheres to and promotes patient safety practices throughout the patient experience.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with all members of the healthcare team.
• Provides ongoing education to patients and families.
• Delegates to other staff registered nurse licensed practical nurses certified nursing assistants patient care technicians unit…