CVICU Registered Nurse
Orange, California
Children's Hospital of Orange County

Registered Nurse – CVICU (Travel/Contract)

Location: Orange, California
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Shift: Day shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
• Required Experience: Minimum 2 years of strong PICU or NICU experience (first-timers may be considered if meeting this)
• Floating: Required; must float to PICU or NICU first, may also float to Pediatric Medical/Surgical Oncology floor
• Weekend Requirement: 4 weekend shifts per month, including some holidays (shared with regular staff)
• On-call: Not required
• Scheduling: Self-scheduling
• Documentation System: Cerner

Unit & Patient Population

• Highly variable patient population, mostly surgical patients with a large majority being infants
• Patient acuity varies
• Procedures and equipment include:

  • ECMO (technicians operate pumps)
  • Nitric Oxide therapy
  • Pacemakers
  • Chest tubes
  • Invasive monitors
  • Bedside procedures such as chest tube placement and cardioversions
• No floating to Emergency Department or Mental Health units

Required Certifications

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) – AHA only
• BLS (Basic Life Support) – AHA only
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) – AHA only

Required Licenses & Credentials

• Valid Registered Nurse license for California (paperless system; no physical copy required)

Compliance & Onboarding Requirements

• Background checks including criminal history, SSN trace, education verification, and national databases within 60 days of start
• Drug screening: Negative 9-panel drug test within 60 days of start (instant drug screens not accepted)
• Immunizations and health screenings:

  • Tdap vaccine (TD or Dtap not acceptable)
  • Negative TB test (IGRA or 2-step PPD within 60 days of start) or valid chest X-ray if previously positive
  • Annual TB questionnaire
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella: Positive titer or 2 vaccines required; boosters if titers low/negative
  • Hepatitis B: Positive titer, declination, or proof of 3-shot series
  • Seasonal flu vaccine or approved medical/religious exemption required during flu season
• Mask fit testing required prior to start (cannot be completed onsite); specific mask types accepted
• Physical exam within 1 year (Aya standard)
• Eye exam (in-person visual acuity exam) required prior to start
• Color blind exam (Ishihara test) required prior to start
• References: 2 supervisor references required (charge RN or floor supervisor acceptable)
• Verification of 2 previous employers with up to 7 years of relevant experience required

Competency & Training

• Pediatric-specific competency exams required, including medication/pharmacology competency with a minimum score of 80% on NICU pharmacology section if applicable
• Completion of orientation modules prior to starting on the floor (approx. 6-8 hours, deadlines apply)
• Facility-specific orientation including safety manual, job description acknowledgment, non-disclosure agreement, standards of conduct, mission/vision/values, dress code acknowledgment (including fingernail hygiene policy)
• Pyxis access request form must be completed prior to start
• Additional NICU-specific education acknowledgments and position statements required if assigned to NICU

Additional Notes

• Photo ID (driver’s license or passport) with front and back copies must be presented upon arrival
• Badges are picked up on the unit during the first shift
• Temperature checks and prescreening questions may be required before building access
• No on-call responsibilities
• No floating to Emergency Department or Mental Health units
• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required; first-time travelers may be considered with 2 years strong experience

This position is ideal for experienced pediatric critical care nurses comfortable with high-acuity infant and surgical patients, flexible with floating assignments within pediatric critical care units, and able to meet comprehensive onboarding and compliance requirements.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in California
• Minimum 2 years of CVICU experience, with CVICU experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• ACLS certification
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association
• PALS certification