Travel Nurse RN - ICU - Intensive Care Unit
Chandler, AZ
First Connect Health
3x12 hrs, Nights
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 populations. This position requires strong critical-care experience and the ability to care for complex trauma, neurological, medical, and cardiovascular patients.

Minimum Experience Requirement

A FULL 3 YEARS OF RECENT ICU EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED — NO EXCEPTIONS.

Candidates must also have experience in either Neuro or Cardiovascular (CV) care.

• First-time travelers are welcome to be considered.
• Level I Trauma and Neuro experience are preferred.
• Experience in a similar-size, high-acuity ICU is preferred.
• Candidates should be comfortable floating between multiple ICU environments.

Required Certifications

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

Surgical ICU – Trauma / Neuro Surgery

• Beds: 32
• RN-to-Patient Ratio: 1:1–1:2
• Facility: Level I Trauma Center
• Patient Population: Trauma patients age 15+
• Common diagnoses and cases include:
  • Falls
  • Gunshot wounds
  • Blunt trauma
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • CVA
  • Status post-TPA
  • Sepsis
  • ARDS
  • COVID
  • Exploratory laparotomy
  • Craniotomy
  • Specialty neurosurgical cases

Medical / Cardiac ICU & Overflow

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

Common medical diagnoses include:

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

Cardiovascular Patient Population

The CVICU population may include:

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

Critical Care & Drip Management

RNs are required to independently manage and titrate critical-care medications according to physician 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 must independently read and interpret cardiac rhythms
• Ventilators: Dräger, Hamilton, Puritan Bennett 840
• BiPAP: V60
• High Flow: Airvo

Clinical Support

• Charge RN: Available on each shift; 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 assist with sitters and Health Unit Secretary duties

Floating Requirements

Travelers are expected to float between the following ICU areas according to staffing needs:

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

Travelers may also be required to float to Telemetry, with an approximate 1:3–1:4 ratio.

Schedule

• Self-scheduling: Available
• Schedule may be adjusted by management to maintain appropriate staffing
• Weekend Requirement: 3 weekend shifts per 4-week schedule
  • Night shift: Friday & Saturday
  • Day shift: Saturday & Sunday
• Holiday: May have 1 holiday off during the assignment
• Call/Standby: No additional call or standby shifts required
• Low Census: May be low-censused up to 3 times per contract based on unit needs

Orientation

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

Required Assessments

UNA Dysrhythmia Exam

• Required 24–48 hours prior to acceptance
• Maximum of 2 attempts
• Failure results in DNU status for 6 months for CSH AZ and CSH Sacramento regions.

Day 1 SIM Lab

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

Dress Code

• Navy scrubs

Radius & Employment Eligibility

• 50-mile radius rule applies
• Candidates may not have been full-time, part-time, or PRN with any facility associated with CommonSpirit, 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 prior to an offer.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced ICU RN with 3 full years of recent ICU experience, including Neuro or CV experience. The nurse should be confident managing high-acuity trauma, neurological, medical, and cardiac patients; titrating complex drips; interpreting cardiac rhythms; managing advanced respiratory support; and floating between multiple ICU environments based on patient and staffing needs.

Akshay #1184523