ICU Registered Nurse
Columbus, GA
Access Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Nights

Job Opportunity: ICU Registered Nurse

Location: Columbus, Georgia
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 12 weeks

Patient Population

• Adults to Geriatrics

Required Experience

• Minimum 2 years ICU nursing experience
• 1st time travelers accepted

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)

Key Skills and Responsibilities

• Experience with all potential ICU diagnoses
• High volume of ventilators and arterial lines
• Competency in titration of continuous infusions: sedation agents, pain medications, paralytic agents, vasopressors
• Agency RNs do not care for CRRT patients unless competent with Baxter PrisMax machine
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds each morning with intensivist, bedside RN, PharmD, RRT, OT/PT, dietitian, case manager, wound care
• Transport patients (e.g., to CT) alongside tech and RRT if on ventilator
• Night shift nurse practitioners place central lines, vascular catheters, arterial lines, attend codes, and admit patients to ICU (not RN responsibility)
• Patient-to-nurse ratio: 1:2-3
• Use of Epic electronic health record system required
• Familiarity with Pyxis medication system and SBAR communication method

Schedule and Work Conditions

• Rotate weekends: every other weekend
• Floating within facility/scope of practice as needed
• No on-call requirements
• Expected to work major holidays if they fall during assignment (see below)
• Return to orientation (RTO) maximum 7 days

Major Holidays:

• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving/Black Friday
• Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
• New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Georgia
• Minimum 2 years ICU (Intensive Care Unit) nursing experience, with ICU experience within the last year
• BLS certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• ACLS certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Experience titrating continuous infusions of sedation agents and/or pain medications
• Experience titrating paralytic agents
• Experience and competency managing CRRT patients (including Baxter PrisMax machine competency)
• Experience with Epic electronic health record system

Health and Compliance Requirements

• Background check completed within 30 days prior to start
• Education verification required (degree related to nursing)
• Physical exam within 12 months prior to start
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 12 months (with additional requirements if history of positive TB)
• Required immunizations or proof of immunity:

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 MMR vaccines or positive titer)
  • Varicella (2 vaccines or positive titer)
  • Hepatitis B surface antibody titer or signed declination
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (Tdap highly recommended)
• Negative 10-panel drug screen within 60 days prior to start
• Flu vaccine or signed declination required during flu season (Nov 1 - Mar 31)

Competency Exams and Testing

• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam required
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required (3 attempts allowed)
• Color blindness test required (with alternative assessment if needed)
• General competency exam required for nursing staff

Additional Requirements

• Skills checklist updated within 12 months
• Verification of most recent work history (can be pending at start with proof it is in process)
• Two clinical references required

Notes

• Floating may include a sister campus within the same healthcare system
• Compliance with all requirements is mandatory to start on time; delays in compliance may result in assignment start being pushed back by 2 weeks
• Locals accepted at the same rate as travelers

This position is ideal for experienced ICU RNs comfortable with high-acuity adult and geriatric patients, ventilator management, and critical care protocols in a fast-paced ICU environment.