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

Registered Nurse (RN) – Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Department: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Unit Capacity: 33 Beds
Average Daily Census: 16 Patients
Shift: 12-Hour Shifts
Shift Times: 6:30 AM–6:30 PM / 6:30 PM–6:30 AM
Required Certifications: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS
Weekend Requirement: Every Other Weekend
Floating: PCU; occasional Med-Surg

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and clinically proficient Registered Nurse (RN) to join a 33-bed Intensive Care Unit. The ICU provides care for a diverse adult critical-care population, including trauma, cardiac conditions, sepsis, respiratory distress, neurological conditions, renal failure, vascular cases, and complex postoperative patients.

The ideal candidate should have strong critical-care experience, excellent clinical judgment, and the ability to independently manage high-acuity patients requiring continuous monitoring, ventilatory support, and titratable medications.

Unit & Patient Population

• 33-bed ICU
• Average daily census: approximately 16 patients
• Adult nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:2–3
• Common diagnoses and patient populations include:
  • Trauma
  • Cardiac conditions
  • Overdose / substance abuse
  • Sepsis
  • Post-stent patients
  • Post-pacemaker placement
  • Stroke
  • Vascular conditions
  • Renal failure
  • Heart failure
  • Respiratory distress

Clinical Responsibilities

The ICU RN will be responsible for providing comprehensive care to critically ill adult patients, including:

• Performing detailed assessments and continuous critical-care monitoring.
• Managing patients with complex medical, cardiac, neurological, vascular, and respiratory conditions.
• Recognizing changes in patient condition and initiating appropriate interventions.
• Administering and titrating critical-care medications.
• Managing ventilated and mechanically supported patients.
• Interpreting telemetry and cardiac rhythms.
• Collaborating with physicians, respiratory therapy, and multidisciplinary care teams.
• Maintaining accurate clinical documentation and adhering to patient-safety standards.

Drip Management

Titration experience is required.

RNs may manage and titrate a broad range of critical-care medications, including:

• Cardiac drips
• Insulin infusions
• Sedation medications
• Other critical-care infusions according to patient condition and facility protocols

Respiratory Support

The unit manages a broad range of respiratory support, from:

• Nasal cannula
• High-flow oxygen
• BiPAP / CPAP
• Mechanical ventilation

RNs are expected to be comfortable caring for patients across the respiratory-support spectrum and managing ventilated patients as part of the multidisciplinary critical-care team.

Telemetry & Monitoring

• Continuous telemetry monitoring available.
• RNs are responsible for reading, interpreting, and documenting cardiac rhythm strips.
• Monitor brand: GE
• Telemetry technicians provide oversight of the monitors.

Nursing Support

Nurse Aides / Healthcare Support Technicians

Nurse aides are available based on census and staffing needs. They may:

• Provide 1:1 sitter coverage
• Assist with patient care on the unit
• Support nursing staff based on patient volume and acuity

A Healthcare Support Technician is typically available 3 days per week, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Floating Requirements

Travel RNs may be required to float based on operational needs:

• Primary float: PCU
• Occasional float: Med-Surg

When floating, the RN will generally receive the applicable unit's standard patient assignment:

• PCU/Med-Surg ratio: approximately 1:4–5

Schedule & Scheduling

• Day Shift: 6:30 AM–6:30 PM
• Night Shift: 6:30 PM–6:30 AM
• 12-hour shifts
• Core staff utilize self-scheduling, with travelers incorporated into the finalized schedule.
• Block scheduling cannot be guaranteed.
• Block scheduling may only be considered for weekend-only arrangements upon manager approval.
• Travelers who are paired with another traveler and require identical schedules or shared transportation may not be accommodated.

Weekend Requirement

• Every other weekend
• Weekends are defined as Saturday and Sunday.

Holiday Requirement

• Travelers are required to work a minimum of 2 holidays that fall within the contract period.

Orientation & Skills Validation

Unit-Specific Orientation

• 1 shift of department-specific orientation.

RN Skills Exam

• A Pass/Fail open-book exam is administered on Wednesdays during orientation.
• The exam covers skills and competencies taught during orientation.
• Necessary resources are provided to candidates.
• A minimum score of 90% is required to pass.
• Failure to achieve the required score may result in termination of the contract.

On-Call / Callback Requirement

If a traveler is placed on call and subsequently called back to the facility, they must be able to arrive within 30 minutes.

Submission & Compliance Requirements

Radius Rule

• 50-mile radius rule applies.
• A copy of the candidate's Driver's License is required at submission and will be used to verify that the candidate resides outside the 50-mile radius.

CommonSpirit Employment Restriction

Candidates may not have been employed full-time, part-time, or PRN by any facility associated with CommonSpirit, including CHI and/or Dignity, within the applicable restriction period.

Fingernail Policy

• Artificial nails are prohibited in all patient-care departments.
• Candidates must comply with the facility's fingernail policy.
• Refusal to remove artificial nails may result in termination of the contract.

Requested Time Off (RTO)

• All RTO must be submitted upfront.
• Maximum RTO: 7 days per 13-week contract.
• Additional RTO will not be approved after submission.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced ICU RN who is confident caring for high-acuity adult patients and managing complex critical-care therapies. Strong experience with titrating cardiac drips, insulin and sedation, mechanical ventilation, telemetry interpretation, and multisystem critical illness is essential. The candidate should also be adaptable to floating to PCU or Med-Surg when required and demonstrate strong clinical judgment, teamwork, and patient-care skills.

Akshay #1185703