Patient Placement RN

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 us

As 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.

Why Salem Health?

Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.

We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.