Travel Nurse RN - ICU - Intensive Care Unit
Omaha, NE
First Connect Health
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse (RN)

Position: ICU Registered Nurse (RN)
Department: Intensive Care Unit
Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS
Shift: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM / 6:30 PM – 7:00 AM
Weekend: Every Other Weekend
Scrub Color: Navy Blue
Radius Rule: 50 Miles

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced ICU Registered Nurse (RN) to provide high-acuity care to critically ill adult patients in a fast-paced Intensive Care Unit.

The ICU cares for patients with complex medical, cardiac, neurological, and critical-care conditions. The ideal candidate should be comfortable managing ventilated patients, titrating critical-care medications, interpreting telemetry, and caring for patients requiring close hemodynamic monitoring.

Required Certifications

• BLS – Required
• ACLS – Required
• NIHSS – Required

ICU Staffing & Ratios

• Standard ICU nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:2
• When patients are downgraded:
  • Medical patients: approximately 1:5
  • PCU patients: approximately 1:4
• Charge Nurse available on each shift
• Charge Nurse staffing/assignment responsibilities are determined by unit needs
• Nurse/Patient Care Technicians available:
  • 1 tech up to 20 patients
  • 2 techs when census reaches 21–24 patients

Common Patient Population

The ICU cares for a broad range of high-acuity patients, including:

• COPD
• Pneumonia
• CVA
• TIA
• DKA
• Sepsis
• CHF
• STEMI
• Neurological/Neuro patients

Critical Care & Drip Management

RNs are required to independently manage and titrate critical-care medications.

Common medications/infusions include:

• Vasopressors
• Insulin
• TNK
• Heparin
• IV antibiotics
• Sedatives

Strong critical-care medication management and patient monitoring skills are required.

Respiratory Support

The unit manages patients requiring advanced respiratory support, including:

• Mechanical ventilation
• BiPAP

RNs should be comfortable caring for ventilated patients and managing respiratory support in collaboration with Respiratory Therapy.

Telemetry

• RNs are responsible for reading and interpreting their own telemetry strips.
• Strong cardiac rhythm recognition skills are required.

Critical Care Coverage

• 24/7 critical care coverage
• E-ICU staffed by a nurse and APRN 24/7
• Continuous access to critical-care support

Floating Requirements

Travelers may be required to float based on operational needs.

Potential floating assignments include:

• PCU
• Medical/Surgical floors

Candidates should be comfortable caring for patients within their competency and scope when floating.

Schedule

Day Shift: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Night Shift: 6:30 PM – 7:00 AM

• Schedule is created by the unit scheduler.
• Every other weekend required.
• Holiday requirements vary based on unit needs.
• Self-scheduling/block scheduling is not guaranteed.

Orientation & Required Exam

Orientation

• First week includes system orientation and onboarding.
• Approximately 1–2 12-hour shifts of unit-specific orientation.

ICU Exam

During orientation, RNs must complete a pass/fail exam on Friday covering skills learned during orientation.

• Exam is open book.
• All necessary resources are provided.
• 90% minimum passing score required.
• Failure to achieve 90% results in termination of the contract.

Important Assignment Policies

50-Mile Radius Rule

• Candidates must live outside the 50-mile radius to qualify under the travel requirement.
• A driver's license is required at submission and will be used to determine the candidate's residence/radius eligibility.
• Candidates may not be full-time, part-time, or PRN employees with any facility associated with CommonSpirit, CHI, or Dignity.

RTO Policy

• RTO must be submitted upfront.
• Maximum 7 days of RTO per 13-week contract.
• Additional RTO will not be approved after submission.

Fingernail Policy

• Artificial nails are prohibited in all patient-care departments.
• Candidates must comply with the facility's fingernail policy.
• Refusal to remove prohibited artificial nails may result in contract termination.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced ICU RN with strong critical-care skills, including ventilator management, telemetry interpretation, titratable drip management, and care of high-acuity medical, cardiac, and neurological patients. Candidates should also be flexible with floating to PCU and Medical/Surgical units when required.