Location: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: House Operations
Position Type: Full Time, 36 hours/week, Non-Exempt
Schedule: 6:00 pm - 6:30 am, three 12-hour variable shifts
Your role with usAs a patient placement RN within House Operations, you play a critical role in ensuring patients are placed in the right level of care, in the right bed, at the right time. You'll serve as a central clinical resource, collaborating closely with physicians, nursing leadership, care management, and external facilities to support safe, efficient patient flow throughout the hospital. Your clinical expertise, sound judgment, and ability to navigate complex situations will directly impact patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and the overall care experience.
What you'll do- Coordinate and oversee direct admissions, intra-hospital transfers, and external transfer requests to ensure timely and appropriate patient placement.
- Collaborate with physicians, ED care managers, nursing leaders, and unit teams to assess level of care needs and facilitate seamless transitions.
- Screen patients using clinical judgment, InterQual criteria, and medical necessity guidelines to determine appropriate admission status and placement.
- Support EMTALA compliance by assisting physicians with transfer decisions and regulatory requirements.
- Actively manage bed utilization by assessing current and anticipated bed availability, scheduled admissions, and urgent placement needs.
- Participate in daily bed meetings to prioritize patient flow and resource allocation.
- Identify trends or barriers in bed management and patient throughput, contributing to process improvement strategies.
- Provide clinical screening support for ED patients awaiting admission and community-directed admits.
- Communicate professionally and collaboratively while maintaining confidentiality and demonstrating strong customer service.
- Adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment while supporting organizational values and team-based decision making.
Required qualifications- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Will consider candidates with a non-nursing bachelor's degree if they hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). For internal applicants without a BSN, active enrollment in a BSN program is required unless the applicant holds an MSN.
- Basic Life Support (BLS).
- Current unencumbered licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the State of Oregon.
- Minimum of three years of broad clinical experience as a registered nurse.
Additional information- Critical care and/or medical surgical nursing preferred.
- Two years in a leadership position and leadership and management ability preferred.
- Care management, patient placement, discharge planning and utilization review experience desired.
Total rewards package
Salem Health's comprehensive benefits package prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations, and professional growth. Click here for details.