Cardiovascular Surgical ICU RN
Sacramento, California
Mercy General Hospital

Job Opportunity: RN - Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)

Location: Sacramento, California
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

Seeking experienced CVICU nurses for a travel contract. Candidates will care for critically ill cardiovascular surgical patients including pre- and post-operative CABG, LVADs, Impellas, IABP, TAVRs, CRRT, and Swan monitoring. The unit has 20 beds with nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:1 to 1:2.

Work Environment & Schedule

• 12-hour shifts (day shift starts at 6:45 AM; night shift starts at 5:45 PM)
• Weekend requirement: every other weekend
• Holiday shifts: rotate with core staff; travelers expected to work 2 of the 3 major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's)
• Self-scheduling available but finalized by management
• Floating primarily to other Sacramento facilities; mid-shift float is rare
• Charge nurse duties include break relief but generally no patient assignments
• Nurse aides available as staffing dictates
• EMR system: Cerner
• Telemetry monitoring and ventilator management required
• Hospitalist or Intensivist available in-house
• Respiratory therapy and pharmacy available 24/7

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Active California RN license
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of CVICU nursing experience
• Neuro ICU experience preferred due to float to MSNICU (Neuro ICU)
• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required

Additional Requirements & Notes

• Candidates must provide 2 supervisory references: one within the last 12 months and one within the last 3 years
• Candidates cannot have been employed (full-time, part-time, or PRN) by any facility associated with CommonSpirit (including CHI or Dignity) within the past year; PRN employment through outside firms is acceptable
• Dyslexia exam through Relias or UNA required prior to acceptance (pass/fail with 2 attempts allowed)
• Scrub color: navy (under shirts must be navy, white, or black; scrub jackets optional but must be navy)
• Travelers will not care for LVAD patients; core staff validate skills for CABG recovery, IABP, and CRRT
• Orientation: 1-2 days floor-specific with preceptor

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• Pre- and fresh post-op CABG (goal extubation within 6 hours)
• LVADs, Impellas, IABP, TAVRs
• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
• Critical drips and Swan monitoring
• Multiple pathway protocols in use

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for experienced CVICU nurses interested in a travel contract in Sacramento, CA.