ICU Registered Nurse
Bakersfield, CA
Host Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

Registered Nurse (ICU) - Travel Contract

Location: Bakersfield, California
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Nights
Hours: 12-hour shifts, approximately 36 hours per week
Unit: ICU and ICU-CV Recovery (24 beds, expandable to 32)
Patient Types: Respiratory failure, sepsis, AMI, ARDS, GI bleed, renal failure (CRRT), CABG, TAVR, Impella, vascular and neuro surgeries, ischemic strokes, SAH with EVDs/ICP monitoring
Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: 1:1 and 1:2
Orientation: 2 shifts on ICU unit plus orientation to multiple MedSurg/Telemetry units for floating purposes
Floating: Required to float to MedSurg/Telemetry units (4E, 4W, 5E, 5W, 6E); travelers float first
Breaks: One 30-minute clocked-out break and three 15-minute breaks per shift (per California law)
Weekend Schedule: Every other weekend or equivalent of 4 weekend shifts in 4 weeks
Scrub Color: Navy blue scrubs; scrub jackets must be navy; undershirts must be navy, white, or black

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of ICU nursing experience
• Active California RN license
• Current BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS certifications
• Prior travel experience required (no first-time travelers accepted)

Clinical & Technical Details

• Basic EKG interpretation test during orientation; critical care RNs will have advanced EKG testing (STEMI and Procedural Sedation curricula)
• Telemetry monitoring with Spacelabs system; nurses responsible for reading all tele strips
• Ventilator support maintained by Respiratory Therapy (RT) available 24/7
• 24/7 RT coverage on unit
• 24/7 hospital pharmacy with dedicated pharmacist coverage on unit (12 hours M-F, 6 hours weekends)
• Medications include all cardiac and vasoactive drips, conscious sedation, etc.
• EMR system: Cerner
• Equipment includes pagers linked to call light system and internal communication phones

Additional Information

• Intensivist coverage on unit from 7 AM to 5 PM, on-call after hours
• Charge nurse role exists; rarely takes patients but responds to rapid responses
• No nurse aides or IV team on unit
• "Free Resource Nurse" may take patients if staffing requires
• Unit orientation includes floating to East and West towers for MedSurg/Telemetry coverage

This opportunity is ideal for experienced ICU nurses with prior travel assignments who are comfortable with high-acuity patients and floating across related units.