Trauma ICU Registered Nurse
Ventura, California
Ventura County Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - Trauma ICU (Travel/Contract)

Location: Ventura, California
Contract Length: 13 weeks (approximately 3 months)
Employment Type: Travel/Contract

Position Overview

• Specialty: Registered Nurse - ICU (Trauma ICU)
• Shift: 3x12 hour night shifts
• Patient Population: Adolescents to Geriatrics
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:2
• Float Requirement: Yes, within service line
• Start Date: ASAP
• Prior travel experience: Not explicitly required
• First-time travelers: Not accepted

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum Specialty Experience: 1 year (Trauma ICU experience required)
• Charting Experience: Cerner system required
• Certifications Required:

  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
  • BCLS (Basic Life Support)
  • NIH Stroke Certification
  • TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) or TCAR (Trauma Care After Resuscitation)
• Certifications Preferred:

  • CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute)
  • MAB (Management of Assaultive Behavior)

Required Skills & Clinical Competencies

• Trauma experience in Surgical Intensive Care Unit
• Interpretation and management of dysrhythmias
• Multi-system organ failure management
• IV insulin protocols
• GI surgery care
• Chronic and acute renal failure management
• CVVHD/CRRT/Shunts and fistula care
• Accessing ports and arterial line management
• Blood product administration
• Central line care and PICC line management
• Starting IVs, continuous IV sedation, procedural sedation administration
• Titration of cardiac and vasoactive drips
• CVA/acute stroke management
• External ventricular drains (EVD) care
• Hypothermia protocol/Arctic Sun use
• ICP monitoring
• Post-neurosurgery management
• Spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury care
• Assistance with chest tube insertion/removal
• Management of BiPAP/CPAP
• Ventilator management and care of ventilated patients
• High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)
• Interpretation of arterial blood gases (ABGs)
• Suctioning (ETT, NT)
• Infection prevention, isolation precautions, and PPE use
• Phlebotomy
• Surgical wounds with drains and wound vac

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• COVID-19 vaccination required (initial series or approved medical/religious exemption)
• Flu seasonal vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season (Nov 1 - Apr 30)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start, updated annually
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 12 months, with additional requirements for positive or allergy cases
• Drug screening: 10-panel drug screen within 1 year, updated annually
• Background checks including 7-year history, EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG, and state-specific Medi-Cal search
• Professional references: 2 for travel/allied/per diem acute care roles (within 3 years)
• Skills checklist updated annually
• Various facility-specific documents and competency validations required prior to start (e.g., RN Competency Validation, Confidentiality Agreement, Annual Handbook Acknowledgement)
• Advanced EKG exam required prior to start (passing score 80%, two attempts allowed)

Additional Notes

• Candidates must be able to float within the service line
• No first-time travel nurses accepted for this role
• Trauma education: 4 hours of trauma education annually or current TNCC/TCAR certification required
• Candidates must complete all required documentation and competency validations prior to start

This position is ideal for experienced Trauma ICU RNs with at least 1 year of specialty experience who are ready for a travel contract in California with a focus on trauma and critical care nursing.