ICU RN
Rapid City, SD
Thrive Staffing
4x12 hrs, Days

General Information

This position is for an ICU Registered Nurse with a focus on complex patient care within a mixed ICU unit containing Medical, Surgical, Cardiac, Trauma, and Neuro patients. Travelers are expected to have a strong background in critical care nursing.

Patient Types

• Complex ICU patients, including surgical, medical, cardiac, neuro, and trauma.
• Common diagnoses include ARDS, MI, CVA/TIA, COVID, post-cardiac catheterization, post-surgical recovery, and multiple system trauma.
• Cardiac experience is preferred but not mandatory, specifically CABG/TAVR 24 to 48 hours post-operation.

Patient Ratios

The typical patient-to-nurse ratios are as follows, depending on acuity: 1:1, 1:2, and occasionally 1:3.

Required Certifications and Education

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)
• TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) - Required prior to arrival
• Completion of a nursing education program approved by a board of nursing; Registered Nurse (RN) licensure required in South Dakota.

Skills and Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of ICU nursing experience, excluding travel assignments. Applicants with 1.5 years of ICU experience and significant nursing experience outside of ICU may be considered with management approval.
• Comfortable managing a variety of critical care situations, including experience with IV medications (vasopressors, sedation, paralytics), hemodynamic lines, proning, ventilator management, and telemetry.
• Strong critical thinking and assessment skills, effective teamwork ability, and capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment with critically ill patients.
• Experience with Impella, IABP, and CRRT is strongly preferred.

Support and Resources

• 1-2 CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) per unit plus mobility float aide.
• Support from nursing charge personnel covering all units.
• Access to peripheral blood draws from phlebotomy services.
• Critical care resources available, including a Resource Nurse and a dedicated Respiratory Therapy team available 24/7.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration with Intensivists and Advanced Practice Providers during the night shift.

Orientation and Scheduling

• Initial orientation includes an 8-hour hospital orientation, followed by department-specific training.
• Two 12-hour shifts for unit orientation, with an additional 12-hour independent shift for travelers with a 48-hour contract.
• Weekend rotation is preferred to be every other weekend; holiday time off is not available during high-demand periods, such as the Sturgis Bike Rally.
• Approval for time off is possible, with up to 7 days maximum for a full 13-week contract, subject to management guidelines.

Other Notes

Successful candidates may be expected to precept nursing students and assist in educational efforts. Scrub color is navy, and free parking is available on site.