ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Short Stay Unit Jobs (NOW HIRING)

UnityPoint Health

RN Short Stay Unit

Sioux City, IA · On-site

Overview RN Short Stay Unit UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's - Sioux City Downtown Hours: Part time, 20 hours per week Schedule: 7:00am-4:30pm As a member of the interdisciplinary team, contributes ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsShort Stay Unit Jobs

Short Stay Unit information

See salary details

$8

$19

$30

How much do short stay unit jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for short stay unit in the United States is $19.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.90 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a short stay unit?

A Short Stay Unit (SSU) in a hospital is a specialized area designed for patients who require observation, treatment, or recovery for a short period, typically less than 24 to 48 hours. These units often serve patients who do not need full hospital admission but are not ready to go home after emergency or outpatient care. SSUs help improve patient flow, reduce overcrowding in emergency departments, and ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate care. Common cases managed in SSUs include minor surgeries, observation after trauma, or monitoring for short-term medical conditions.

What are the typical responsibilities of a nurse working in a short stay unit?

Nurses in a Short Stay Unit are responsible for providing care to patients who require observation or treatment for a short duration, typically less than 24-48 hours. Daily tasks include patient assessment, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and coordinating discharge planning. Nurses in SSUs often work closely with physicians, case managers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure efficient patient flow and timely transitions of care. The fast-paced environment requires strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt quickly to changing patient needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a short stay unit nurse, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Short Stay Unit Nurse, you need strong clinical assessment skills, a solid understanding of acute care protocols, and a current nursing license (RN or equivalent). Familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs), vital sign monitoring systems, and medication administration tools is essential. Exceptional time management, adaptability, and effective communication skills help nurses excel in this fast-paced, transitional environment. These skills ensure efficient patient turnover, safe care delivery, and seamless coordination within the healthcare team.

What is the difference between Short Stay Unit vs Medical Assistant?

AspectShort Stay UnitMedical Assistant
CredentialsRegistered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, specialized units for short-term patient careDoctor's offices, clinics, outpatient settings
Employer & IndustryHealthcare facilities, hospitalsMedical practices, outpatient clinics
Job FocusMonitoring, caring for short-term patients, post-procedure recoveryAssisting with patient exams, administrative tasks, basic clinical procedures

The main difference is that Short Stay Units are specialized hospital units requiring nursing credentials, focusing on short-term patient care, while Medical Assistants support clinical and administrative tasks in outpatient settings. Both roles are essential in healthcare but serve different environments and responsibilities.

More about Short Stay Unit jobs

What job categories do people searching Short Stay Unit jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Short Stay Unit jobs are:

Short Stay Unit jobs near you
Infographic showing various Short Stay Unit job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,170 per year, or $19.8 per hour.

REGISTERED NURSE - SHORT STAY UNIT

ASPIRUS HEALTH

Wausau, WI • On-site

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 hours ago

Aspirus Health rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 262 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

648th of 898 rated healthcare providers

Job description

REGISTERED NURSE - SHORT STAY UNIT - Sign on bonus eligible
Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau, WI
Full-Time or .9 FTE, 72 hours every pay period, 12-hour NIGHT shifts, every third weekend, holiday rotation
We are seeking a highly motivated, proactive nurse who thrives in a fast-paced environment and adapts well to frequent patient turnover. Strong communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills are essential for success in this role.
Unit Description:
The Registered Nurse on our 16-bed intermediate level of care unit practices in a fast-paced, high-turnover environment with an average patient length of stay of 48 hours or less. A key focus of this unit is optimizing patient throughput while supporting efficient, high-quality care delivery. This dynamic setting offers a unique opportunity to care for a high volume of patients, allowing nurses to make a meaningful impact on many individuals in a short period of time.
Our unit serves patients requiring observation, extended recovery, or ambulatory level of care. Nurses play a critical role in closely monitoring and assessing patients while collaborating with providers to determine the need for further treatment or discharge. You will care for a diverse patient population across a wide range of diagnoses and provider specialties, including but not limited to cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics, plastics, urology, general surgery, trauma, spine and neurosciences, and neurology. Nurses on this unit also gain valuable experience managing a variety of medication drips, making this an excellent learning environment for both newly licensed and experienced nurses looking to expand their skill set.
Responsibilities include assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care while incorporating evidence-based practice. Nurses on this unit play a key role in continuously improving care quality through data collection, analysis, and participation in process improvement initiatives.
Experience/Qualifications:
  • Associate degree in nursing required.
  • Bachelor's degree in nursing preferred.
  • Certification in specialty desired.
  • Ideally, there is a minimum of three years practicing as an RN in comparative setting.
  • Possesses an active Wisconsin and/or Michigan RN nursing license.
  • Maintains specialty certification as per department scope of service.
  • Current BLS certification or obtained within 90 days of hire. (See Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training Policy).
  • Current Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), or Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) certification may be required based on primary department.

Why you'll love working here:
  • Full benefits packages available for part- and full-time status.
  • PTO accrual from day one!
  • Generous retirement plan with match available.
  • Wellness program for employees and their families.

Aspirus Wausau Hospital, the flagship of the Aspirus system, serves northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Aspirus Wausau Hospital provides primary, secondary and tertiary care services as a regional referral center. Specialty referral service emphasis exists in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedics and cancer. The hospital has an average daily inpatient census of 160 with approximately 15,000 admissions per year. Outpatient visits exceed 50,000 and there are also more than 24,000 annual emergency department visits. Best known for its world-class cardiovascular program, Aspirus Wausau Hospital also provides leading edge cancer, trauma, women's health, and spine and neurological care. To learn more about Wausau click the following link: Wausau, Wisconsin
Our Mission: We heal people, promote health and strengthen communities.
Our Vision: Aspirus is a catalyst for creating healthy, thriving communities, trusted and engaged above all others.
As an Aspirus team, we demonstrate caring, we plan to impact the future, work with happiness and enthusiasm, recognize our power to make a difference and improve the health of our communities.
Aspirus Health is a nonprofit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The health system operates 18 hospitals and 130 outpatient locations with nearly 14,000 team members, including 1,300 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians. For more information visit aspirus.org.
Click here to learn more.
Credentials:
Essential:
* CPR or BLS
* REGISTERED NURSE LICENSE
* ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT

What Aspirus Health employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply