ICU/PCU Registered Nurse
Burien, Washington
Highline Medical Center

Registered Nurse - ICU

Location: Burien, Washington
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

Seeking an experienced ICU Registered Nurse for a travel contract in Washington. The role involves caring for critically ill patients in a 10-bed ICU and 21-bed Progressive Care Unit (PCU). The nurse will primarily work in the ICU but may be required to float within the region to other hospitals as needed.

Unit Details

• Unit: ICU / PCU
• Beds: 10 ICU, 21 PCU
• Nurse:Patient Ratios:

  • ICU: 2:1 (normal), 3:1 (stretch)
  • PCU: 3:1 (normal), 4:1 (stretch)
• Shifts: 12-hour shifts, centralized scheduling
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Holiday Requirement: Rotate with permanent staff
• Call/Standby: None
• Floating: Rotation to med/surg/tele (1:5), telemetry (1:4-5), ED boarding, PCU (1:3-4)

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• COVID-19
• Respiratory failure
• Cardiac arrest
• Sepsis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 2 years ICU nursing experience
• Experience with ventilated patients
• Cath lab recovery
• Therapeutic hypothermia
• Ability to titrate drips (sedation, pressors, diuretics, insulin, amiodarone)

Certifications & Licenses

• Active Washington State RN license (pending license submission accepted; temp license takes ~4 weeks)
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)

Team & Support

• Charge nurse coverage 24 hours
• House supervisor coverage 1500-0700
• Respiratory therapists available 24/7
• Intensivist coverage 0800-1500
• Hospitalist coverage 24 hours
• Tele/Monitor techs present; RNs read their own cardiac strips

Equipment & Technology

• Ventilators
• CPAP/BiPAP
• High flow oxygen devices

Orientation & Dress Code

• Unit-specific orientation: 1 shift (12 hours)
• No set scrub color; professional scrubs of any color allowed

Additional Notes

• Nurses may be required to float within the region to other hospitals as needed.
• Nurse aids available rarely on ICU; PCU nurse aide ratio approximately 8:1.

Prior Travel Experience

• Not explicitly required.

Summary

This ICU travel nurse position requires a minimum of 2 years ICU experience, current Washington RN license, and certifications in BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS. The role involves caring for critically ill patients with complex needs, working 12-hour shifts with every other weekend coverage, and floating within a regional hospital network as needed.