SICU Registered Nurse
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital

Registered Nurse – SICU (Travel/Contract)

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Overview

• Work in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) with oncology patient population.
• Shift: Night shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 PM – 7:30 AM).
• Rotating day/night shifts possible if accepting 12-hour rotating contract (shift assignments reviewed every 4 weeks, but not guaranteed).
• Patient population: Adults with critical conditions including hemorrhagic shock, hypovolemic shock, sepsis, septic shock, pneumonia, ARDS, craniotomy, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, intracranial hypertension, delirium.

Required Experience & Skills

• Minimum 2 years of ICU experience required.
• EPIC electronic health record experience required.
• Oncology experience preferred but not mandatory.
• Prior travel experience not accepted (no first-time travelers).

Certifications Required

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) – AHA provider or instructor accepted.
• BLS (Basic Life Support) – AHA provider or instructor accepted.
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) certification.

Clinical Competencies & Procedures

• External Ventricular Drain management
• Intracranial Pressure (ICP) monitoring
• Massive Transfusion Protocol
• Mechanical Ventilation
• Heated High Flow Oxygen Therapy
• BiPAP and CPAP management
• Tracheostomy care
• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
• Vasopressor titration

Patient Care Focus

• Adult critical care patients with complex neurological and oncological diagnoses.

Required Licenses & Verification

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license for Ohio.
• License verification required within 30 days of start.
• NURSYS verification required for RNs.

Background & Compliance Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check within 90 days of start, including SS trace, counties lived/worked, nationwide search, sex offender registry, and motor vehicle record if driving is required.
• FBI and BCI fingerprinting required using specific code (3701.881) within 1 year of start. New fingerprinting required if break in service exceeds 90 days or results are older than 1 year.
• Pending background check attestation required if fingerprint results are pending at start.
• Education accreditation confirmation: Nursing degree must be from an accredited program (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA).
• Employment application and skills checklist required.
• Two professional references required, including at least one from a manager or formal leadership.

Health & Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 1 year confirming good health and free of contagious disease.
• Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year; annual TB questionnaire required.
• Immunizations:

  • Tdap (adult dose after age 11/12) required.
  • 2 MMR vaccines or positive titers for measles, mumps, and rubella.
  • Hepatitis B titer or 3-vaccine series (declination accepted).
  • Varicella: 2 vaccines or positive titer (medical exemption requires documentation).
• Seasonal flu vaccine or declination with mask-wearing during flu season (Oct 1 – Mar 31).
• Negative 10-panel drug screen within 3 months of start (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methadone, methaqualone, opiates, PCP, propoxyphene).
• Fit mask test required annually for inpatient/patient-facing roles (valid for entire assignment).

Competency Exams & Training

• Medication test/pharmacology competency exam required prior to start.
• Unit-specific competency exam required.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required within 1 year of start (with remediation process if failed).
• Annual stroke education (BEFAST Stroke CE) required for stroke-capable units.
• Orientation safety manual acknowledgement required annually.
• Fraud, waste, and abuse training certificate required prior to start and updated annually.
• Ethics and compliance policies must be reviewed and acknowledged annually.

Additional Information

• Parking permits available for agency staff at varying costs and access levels (not included here).
• Shift assignments and scheduling are subject to staffing needs and may change every 4 weeks.

This position is ideal for experienced ICU RNs with EPIC experience who are comfortable working rotating or night shifts in a high-acuity oncology and neurological critical care environment. Prior travel experience is required; first-time travelers will not be considered.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio.
• Minimum 2 years of Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) experience, with at least some experience within the last year.
• Completion of at least one prior travel nursing assignment.
• Current ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• Current BLS (Basic Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) certification.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Experience with EPIC electronic health record system.