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

RN – ICU/Trauma ICU | Critical Care

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced ICU/Trauma Registered Nurse (RN) to join a fast-paced, high-acuity 30-bed Trauma ICU. This unit cares for complex trauma, neurological, and critically ill patients and requires nurses with strong critical-care skills and the ability to manage patients with advanced monitoring and life-support needs.

This is a high-acuity, fast-paced unit. Candidates must be prepared to work hard, communicate effectively, ask questions when needed, and collaborate well with the entire care team.

Unit Details

• Department: ICU / Trauma ICU
• Beds: 30
• Typical RN Ratio: 1:1–2
• Approximately 90% of assignments are 1:2
• EMR/Monitoring: GE
• Scrub Color: Navy
• Intensivist: In-house 24/7
• Respiratory Therapy: Dedicated to ICU 24/7

Required Experience

• 2–3 years of recent ICU experience required
• Strong Trauma ICU experience – Required
• Previous travel nursing experience preferred
• Experience in a large, fast-paced facility strongly preferred
• Candidates with 2 years or less experience and limited travel experience are generally not suitable unless they have exceptional experience at a large, high-acuity facility

Must-Have Clinical Skills

Candidates must have experience with:

• Trauma patients
• ICP monitoring
• Ventriculostomies / ventric
• Neuro patients and stroke
• Head injuries

Candidates without ICP monitoring and ventriculostomy experience must have strong experience caring for post-TPA patients.

Patient Population

The ICU/Trauma ICU commonly manages:

• Major trauma
• Neurological emergencies
• Stroke/CVA
• Head injuries
• Patients requiring ventriculostomies
• Patients requiring ICP monitoring
• Post-TPA patients
• Complex critically ill patients

Critical Care & Drip Management

RNs are responsible for titrating critical-care medications, including:

• Vasopressors
• Sedation infusions

Strong assessment skills and the ability to recognize and respond quickly to changes in patient condition are essential.

Certifications

• BLS – Required
• ACLS – Required
• PALS – Preferred
• If the traveler remains on assignment for more than 6 months, PALS will be required after 6 months

Monitoring & Equipment

• GE telemetry/monitoring
• Unit Secretary runs rhythm strips
• RNs are responsible for interpreting their own cardiac rhythms
• Hamilton ventilators
• Advanced critical-care monitoring equipment

Staffing & Clinical Support

• Charge Nurse: Available 24/7
  • Charge Nurse does not take a patient assignment
• House Supervisor: Available 24/7
• Unit Tech: 1 tech for all 30 beds
  • Primarily provides unit secretary/administrative support rather than bedside care
• Intensivist: In-house 24/7
• RT: Dedicated to ICU 24/7

Dysrhythmia Assessment

ICU, Telemetry, L&D, Emergency, and Critical Care RNs are required to complete a proctored Dysrhythmia Test onsite on Day 1.

• Pass/Fail examination
• Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate competency in cardiac rhythm interpretation.

Schedule

• Shift: 12-hour shifts
• Hours: 6:45 AM – 7:15 PM / 6:45 PM – 7:15 AM
• Schedules are generally prepared approximately 6 weeks in advance
• Self-scheduling may be requested but is not finalized until manager review
• Block scheduling: Not available
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Call/Standby: None for travelers

Floating Requirements

Travelers may be required to float based on hospital needs.

Potential float areas include:

• PCU
• CICU
• Telemetry
• Medical-Surgical units

When floating to the CICU, the traveler will care for an ICU-level patient but will not be assigned an open-heart surgical patient.

Travelers are generally the first staff moved when floating is required.

Orientation

• Initial unit orientation: 1 day
• Additional orientation may be provided if needed based on competency and unit requirements.

Holiday RTO

Holiday time-off requests will be considered; however, holiday RTO cannot be guaranteed.

Work Environment & Expectations

This is a busy and demanding ICU environment. Successful candidates should:

• Be comfortable working in a high-acuity setting
• Be willing to ask questions and seek assistance when needed
• Communicate effectively with physicians and multidisciplinary teams
• Work well with coworkers
• Demonstrate strong teamwork and adaptability
• Be comfortable managing complex trauma and neuro patients
• Maintain composure in a fast-paced environment

The facility also has a robust Interventional Radiology program, providing exposure to a broad range of complex procedures and critically ill patients.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced Trauma/ICU RN with strong neuro-critical-care skills and hands-on experience with ICP monitoring and ventriculostomies. The candidate should be comfortable titrating vasopressors and sedation, interpreting cardiac rhythms, caring for trauma patients, and working independently in a high-acuity environment.

Strong trauma experience, advanced neuro monitoring skills, adaptability, and teamwork are essential for success in this assignment.

Akshay #1185097