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

RN – Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) to join a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit in a high-acuity acute-care environment. The unit provides care for complex medical and surgical ICU patients, including individuals with sepsis, respiratory failure, cardiovascular conditions, neurological emergencies, and post-operative complications.

The ideal candidate should be confident managing critically ill patients, interpreting cardiac rhythms, caring for ventilated patients, and working collaboratively in a fast-paced ICU setting.

Position Details

• Department: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Beds: 12
• Charting System: Cerner
• Patient Ratios: 1:1–2
  • 1:1 assignments are uncommon
• Shift: 12-hour shifts
• Shift Timing: 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM / 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM
• Report: Bedside report
• Scrub Color: Navy
  • Undershirts: Navy, white, or black
  • Scrub jackets: Optional; must be navy

Required Certifications

• BLS
• ACLS
• NIHSS

Clinical Experience & Skills

Candidates should have strong ICU experience and be comfortable caring for critically ill medical and surgical patients.

Required/expected skills include:

• Critical-care assessment and monitoring
• Ventilator management and troubleshooting
• EKG/rhythm interpretation
• Management of complex medical and surgical ICU patients
• Recognition and response to changes in patient condition
• Strong clinical judgment and prioritization
• Ability to work effectively in a high-acuity environment

Patient Population

Common diagnoses and patient types include:

• Medical ICU patients
• Surgical ICU patients
• Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI)
• Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
• Multi-Organ Failure (MOF)
• Sepsis
• Respiratory failure
• Post-operative patients with complications
• Critically ill patients requiring advanced monitoring
• Comfort-care patients who remain in the ICU

Common Bedside Procedures

• Transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE)
• Bronchoscopies
• Other complex bedside ICU procedures

Candidates must be comfortable providing care to patients receiving comfort-focused treatment within the ICU.

Unit Support

• Charge Nurse: Available; generally does not carry a patient assignment but provides break relief.
• Nurse Aides: None
• Hospitalist/Intensivist: In-house
• Respiratory Therapy: 24/7
• Pharmacy: 24/7
• IV Team: No dedicated IV team
• Telemetry: Available; RNs must be able to read and interpret EKG strips.
• Ventilators: Yes

Scheduling

• Shift Length: 12 hours
• Shift Timing: 7:00 AM–7:30 PM / 7:00 PM–7:30 AM
• Weekend Requirement: Minimum of 4 weekend shifts within a 4-week period
• Holiday Requirement: Holidays rotate with core staff
• Call: Not specified
• Self-Scheduling: Available, subject to manager review and final approval
• Schedules are generally released approximately 4 weeks in advance.
• Block scheduling is generally not available.
• OT and additional shifts may be available.
• Travelers may access schedules remotely, indicate availability for extra shifts, and trade shifts with other staff as permitted.

Floating Requirements

Floating is required based on staffing and operational needs.

• Travelers may float to other Sacramento-area facilities.
• Mid-shift floating to another facility is rare but possible.
• Candidates should be adaptable and comfortable working in different ICU environments.

Orientation

• Approximately 1–2 days of unit-specific orientation with a preceptor.

Available Start Dates

• November 10
• November 17

Required Dysrhythmia Examination

A Basic Dysrhythmia Examination through UNA is required prior to acceptance.

• Must be completed within 24–48 hours
• Pass/fail format
• Maximum of 2 attempts
• Test A must be assigned first; Test B is used for the retake
• Screenshot showing the number of attempts is required
• A Relias Basic Dysrhythmia exam completed within the previous 12 months may be accepted
• Failure of the second attempt may result in DNU status for CommonSpirit Arizona and Sacramento regions

Submission Requirements

• 2 supervisory references required at submission
  • 1 reference within the last 12 months
  • 1 reference within the last 3 years
  • Charge Nurse references are accepted
• Driver’s license required at submission to validate legal name.
• Pulse profile must exactly match the name on a government-issued ID.
• Middle names and middle initials should not be included if they are not reflected in the required profile format.

Holiday Policy

Travelers are expected to work 2 of the 3 major holidays:

• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• New Year’s

Holiday time off may be considered by management but is not guaranteed.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly skilled ICU RN with strong medical-surgical critical-care experience, excellent assessment and prioritization skills, and the ability to manage ventilated patients and complex ICU diagnoses. Comfort with bedside procedures, comfort-care patients, EKG interpretation, and floating to other Sacramento facilities is essential.

Akshay #1185499