Job info

Registered Nurse – Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)

Location: Sacramento, California
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Nights (12-hour shifts, 0545 start for days, 1745 start for nights)
Hours per Week: 36

Job Overview

High acuity CVICU with 20 beds, nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:1 to 1:2
Float to other Sacramento facilities; mid-shift float is rare but possible
Telemetry unit: must be able to read and interpret EKG strips
Patient population includes pre- and fresh post-op CABG (goal extubation within 6 hours), LVADs, Impellas, IABP, TAVRs, CRRT (Next Stage), critical drips, and Swan monitoring
Core staff validate skills for CABG recovery, IABP, and CRRT; travelers will not take LVAD patients
Cerner EMR system used
Charge nurse duties include break relief but generally no patient assignments
Nurse aides available depending on census and staffing
Hospitalist or Intensivist present in-house
Respiratory therapy and pharmacy available 24/7
Weekend requirement: every other weekend
Holiday shifts rotate with core staff
Scrub color: Navy (under shirts must be navy, white, or black; scrub jackets optional but must be navy)
Orientation: 1-2 days floor-specific with preceptor

Required Qualifications

Valid RN license in California
Minimum 2 years of CVICU experience, including experience within the last year
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Current ACLS, BLS, and NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certifications

Additional Requirements & Notes

Two supervisory references required at time of submission: one within the last 12 months and one within the last 3 years (charge nurse references accepted)
Candidates must not have been employed (full-time, part-time, or PRN) by any facility associated with a specific large health system in the past year; PRN employment through outside firms is acceptable
A dysphagia exam must be completed within 24-48 hours prior to contract signing; passing score required (80% with up to 2 attempts)
Self-scheduling is used but finalized by management; schedules released 4 weeks in advance; travelers can make themselves available for extra shifts and trade shifts with staff
Overtime and extra shifts are available
Block scheduling generally not available

Work Environment & Culture

Very high acuity unit requiring strong clinical skills and critical thinking
Floating to other units/facilities within Sacramento area expected
Charge nurse role includes break relief but limited patient care assignments
Collaborative environment with hospitalists, intensivists, respiratory therapists, and pharmacy support available around the clock

This position is ideal for experienced CVICU nurses seeking a challenging travel assignment in a high-acuity cardiovascular surgical ICU setting with strong support and a structured schedule.