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

ICU Registered Nurse (RN) – Travel Assignment

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled ICU Registered Nurse (RN) to provide critical care to adult patients in a fast-paced, high-acuity 33-bed Intensive Care Unit. The ideal candidate will have strong critical-care experience, advanced assessment skills, and demonstrated competency in managing complex patients, titrating critical-care medications, interpreting cardiac rhythms, and caring for mechanically ventilated patients.

The ICU has an average daily census of approximately 16 patients, with typical nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:2–3 for adult patients.

Unit & Patient Population

• Department: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Unit Size: 33 beds
• Average Daily Census: Approximately 16 patients
• Typical RN Ratio: 1:2–3
• Patient Population: Adult critical-care patients
• Monitoring: GE cardiac telemetry
• Telemetry Oversight: Telemetry technicians provide monitor oversight
• RN Responsibility: RNs must independently read, interpret, and document cardiac rhythms

Common Diagnoses & Patient Conditions

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

• Trauma
• Cardiac conditions
• Sepsis
• Stroke
• Respiratory distress
• Heart failure
• Renal failure
• Vascular conditions
• Post-stent patients
• Post-pacemaker placement
• Overdose and substance-abuse-related critical illness
• Complex medical and surgical patients

Critical Care Responsibilities

The ICU RN will be responsible for providing comprehensive critical care, including:

• Performing detailed initial and ongoing assessments of critically ill patients.
• Monitoring patients for subtle changes in condition and responding promptly to clinical deterioration.
• Managing complex ICU patients with multiple comorbidities and rapidly changing clinical conditions.
• Titrating continuous IV medications according to orders and established protocols.
• Managing cardiac drips, insulin infusions, sedation medications, and other critical-care therapies.
• Monitoring hemodynamic and cardiac status and appropriately escalating changes.
• Reading, interpreting, and documenting cardiac rhythms.
• Caring for patients requiring respiratory support ranging from nasal cannula through mechanical ventilation.
• Troubleshooting ventilator-related issues within the RN scope of practice and collaborating with Respiratory Therapy.
• Administering medications, IV therapies, blood products, and other prescribed treatments.
• Maintaining accurate and timely electronic documentation.
• Providing patient and family education appropriate to the clinical situation.
• Collaborating with physicians, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, nursing staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Following infection prevention, patient safety, and evidence-based critical-care practices.

Required Certifications & Qualifications

• BLS – Required
• ACLS – Required
• NIHSS – Required
• Strong recent ICU/Critical Care RN experience
• Demonstrated experience caring for high-acuity adult patients
• Proven ability to titrate critical-care medications
• Competency with ventilated patients and respiratory support
• Ability to interpret and document cardiac rhythms
• Strong clinical judgment, prioritization, and critical-thinking skills

Respiratory Support

RNs may care for patients requiring respiratory support ranging from:

• Nasal cannula
• High-acuity oxygen therapy
• BiPAP/CPAP
• Mechanical ventilation

RNs are expected to understand respiratory support equipment and perform appropriate troubleshooting within their scope of practice while working closely with Respiratory Therapy.

Staffing & Support

• Nurse Aides: Available based on census; may provide 1:1 sitter support or assist with floor needs depending on patient volume.
• Healthcare Support Technician: Available 3 days per week, Monday–Friday, approximately 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.
• Telemetry Technicians: Provide oversight of cardiac monitors.
• Respiratory Therapy: Available to support ventilated and respiratory-compromised patients.

Schedule

• Day Shift: 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
• Night Shift: 6:30 PM – 6:30 AM
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Holiday Requirement: Minimum of 2 holidays that fall within the contract period
• Self-Scheduling: Available to core staff; travelers are incorporated into the schedule based on department needs.
• Block Scheduling: Cannot be guaranteed.
• If placed on standby/call and subsequently called in, the RN must be able to arrive within 30 minutes.

Floating Requirements

Travelers may be required to float based on facility staffing needs.

Typical floating assignments include:

• PCU
• Occasionally Med/Surg

When floating, the RN will generally be assigned within the appropriate patient ratios for that unit:

• PCU: approximately 1:4
• Med/Surg: approximately 1:5

Candidates should be comfortable floating within their clinical scope and adapting to different patient populations.

Orientation & Competency Requirements

• Unit-specific orientation: 1 shift
• RN Orientation Exam: Pass/Fail exam administered on Wednesdays during orientation.
• The exam is open book and covers skills and information presented during orientation.
• Candidates are provided with the necessary resources to prepare for and complete the exam.
• A minimum score of 90% is required to pass.
• Failure to achieve the required score may result in termination of the contract.

Time-Off & Scheduling Requirements

• RTO must be submitted upfront.
• For a 13-week contract, up to 7 days of RTO may be requested.
• Additional RTO requests will not be approved after submission.
• Block scheduling is generally not approved; weekend-only block scheduling may be requested for consideration.
• Two travelers requesting identical schedules or intending to share transportation may not be accommodated.

Important Submission Requirements

50-Mile Radius Rule

• A 50-mile radius rule applies.
• Candidate's driver's license is required at submission and will be used as the source of truth to determine the candidate's distance from the facility.
• Candidates residing within the applicable radius may be subject to the facility's local candidate restrictions.

CommonSpirit Employment Restriction

Candidates may not currently be Full-Time, Part-Time, or PRN employees with any facility associated with CommonSpirit, including CHI and/or Dignity.

Patient Safety & Professional Standards

The successful ICU RN must demonstrate:

• Excellent clinical judgment and critical-thinking skills
• Strong teamwork and communication
• Ability to remain calm and organized in high-acuity situations
• Commitment to evidence-based practice
• Strict adherence to infection prevention and patient safety standards
• Professionalism, accountability, and adaptability
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams

Fingernail Policy

Artificial nails are prohibited in all patient-care departments. Failure or refusal to comply with the facility's fingernail policy may result in termination of the contract.

Akshay #1184172