Travel Nurse RN - ICU - Intensive Care Unit
Chandler, AZ
First Connect Health
3x12 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus

ICU RN – Surgical, Trauma/Neuro & Medical/Cardiac ICU

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced ICU RN for a high-acuity critical care assignment covering Surgical ICU, Trauma/Neuro ICU, Medical ICU, and Cardiac ICU patient populations. This is a highly specialized position requiring strong critical-care experience and the ability to care for complex trauma, neurological, medical, and cardiovascular patients.

Critical Experience Requirement

3 full years of recent ICU experience are required — NO EXCEPTIONS.

Candidates must also have recent ICU experience that includes either Neuro or Cardiovascular (CV) experience.

• First-time travelers may be considered.
• Candidates must have a minimum of 3 years of overall experience, including substantial ICU experience.
• Experience in Level I Trauma or Neuro is preferred.
• Experience in a similar-size/high-acuity ICU environment is preferred.

Required Certifications

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

Clinical Environment

Surgical ICU – Trauma / Neuro Surgery

• Beds: 32
• RN-to-Patient Ratio: 1:1–1:2
• Level I Trauma Center
• Trauma patients age 15+
• Common patient populations and diagnoses:
  • Falls
  • Gunshot wounds
  • Blunt trauma
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • CVA
  • Status post-TPA
  • Sepsis
  • ARDS
  • COVID
  • Ex-lap patients
  • Craniotomies
  • Specialty neurosurgical cases

Medical / Cardiac ICU & Overflow

• Medical/Cardiac ICU: 36 beds
• Overflow ICU: 12 beds
• RN-to-Patient Ratio: 1:1–1:2

Common medical and critical-care diagnoses include:

• Sepsis
• COVID
• DKA
• Influenza
• ARDS
• Vascular surgery patients
• CRRT patients — experience preferred but not required

Cardiac/CV patient population includes:

• On- and off-pump CABG recovery
• Valve procedures
• Post-cath patients
• TAVR
• IABP
• Impella
• ECMO
• TandemHeart
• Esophagectomies

Drips & Critical Care Skills

RNs are required to titrate multiple critical-care medications according to orders and established parameters.

Common medications/drips include:

• Propofol
• Fentanyl
• Versed
• Precedex
• Morphine
• Dilaudid
• Ketamine
• Rocuronium
• Levophed
• Vasopressin
• Cardene
• Labetalol
• Dopamine
• Dobutamine
• Heparin
• Insulin

Monitoring & Equipment

• Telemetry: GE monitors
• No dedicated monitor technicians
• RNs are responsible for independently reading and interpreting cardiac rhythms
• Ventilators: Dräger, Hamilton, Puritan Bennett 840
• BiPAP: V60
• High Flow: Airvo

Staffing & Clinical Support

• Charge Nurse: Available on each shift and does not take a patient assignment
• Hospitalist/Intensivist: In-house 24/7
• Respiratory Therapy: Available in ICU 24/7
• No routine nurse aides
• Support staff may be utilized for sitters and Health Unit Secretary responsibilities

Floating Requirements

The expectation is for travelers to float between the following critical-care areas based on staffing needs:

• Surgical ICU
• Trauma/Neuro ICU
• Medical/Cardiac ICU
• ICU Overflow

Travelers may also float to Telemetry, typically with a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio, as needed.

Scheduling

• Self-scheduling: Available
• Manager may adjust schedules to maintain appropriate unit coverage
• Weekend Requirement: 3 weekend shifts per 4-week schedule
  • Night shift weekends: Friday & Saturday
  • Day shift weekends: Saturday & Sunday
• Holiday: May have 1 holiday off during the assignment
• Call/Standby: No additional call or standby shifts required
• Low Census: Traveler may be low-censused up to 3 times during the contract, depending on unit needs

Orientation

• 1–2 days of unit/department-specific orientation
• Skills may be validated for trauma, neuro, and specialty equipment/devices as needed.

Dysrhythmia Exam

• UNA Dysrhythmia Exam is required 24–48 hours prior to acceptance of the position
• Maximum of 2 attempts
• Failure results in DNU status for 6 months for the applicable CSH AZ and CSH Sacramento regions.

SIM Lab

• A pass/fail SIM Lab is required on Day 1 of orientation
• Candidates must successfully demonstrate required clinical competencies.
• Failure may result in the traveler being sent home and placed on DNU status for 6 months.

Dress Code

• Navy scrubs

Radius & Eligibility Requirements

• 50-mile radius rule applies
• Driver's license/address will be used to determine eligibility.
• Candidates may not have been full-time, part-time, or PRN employees with any CommonSpirit-affiliated facility, including CHI or Dignity, within the previous 12 months.

Hiring Process

• Auto-offer based on successful clinical prescreen
• Clinical qualifications and required experience will be reviewed before an offer is extended.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced ICU RN with at least 3 full years of recent ICU experience, including Neuro or CV experience, and strong competency in high-acuity critical care. The candidate should be comfortable managing ventilated patients, titrating multiple vasoactive and sedative medications, interpreting cardiac rhythms independently, and caring for complex trauma, neurological, medical, and cardiovascular patients across multiple ICU settings.

Akshay #1184515