Travel Neuro ICU Registered Nurse
Phoenix, Arizona
Saint Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

Neuro ICU Travel Nurse Opportunity

Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Facility: St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

Facility Overview

• 607-bed tertiary care hospital
• Nationally recognized for quality care, medical education, and research
• Specialty programs: Lung, Liver, Kidney Transplants
• Affiliated with Barrow Neurological Institute (world’s #1 neuro institute)
• Teaching hospital with nursing students

Unit Details

• Unit: Neuro ICU
• Beds: 32
• Patient Ratios: 1:2
• EMR: Cerner
• Charge Nurse: Yes (does not take patients)
• Monitoring: Phillips monitors
• Ventilators: Yes
• Respiratory Therapy: 24/7 coverage
• Pharmacy: 24/7 coverage
• Shifts: 12-hour shifts (7am-7pm or 7pm-7am)
• Orientation: 2 shifts on the floor
• Floating: Required to float between all ICU floors and Telemetry units; Telemetry patient load 4:1
• Holidays: Work into core staff rotation; 4 weekends per 4 weeks; 2 out of 4 major holidays worked
• Scrub Color: Any non-offensive color or print; steel grey preferred for neuro floors

Patient Population & Care

• Critical care patients with neurological diagnoses
• Procedures include craniotomies, brain tumor removals, ablations, brain biopsies, complex spine surgeries, scoliosis repair
• Requires strong neuro assessment skills and experience with ICP (intracranial pressure) monitoring

Requirements & Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of ICU experience in a large hospital (450+ beds)
• Level 1 Trauma experience required
• 3-6 months previous travel experience required
• Previous travel experience specifically in Neuro ICU or ED required
• Cerner EMR experience required for ED; Neuro ICU uses Cerner as well
• Must have EVD (external ventricular drain) experience
• ACLS and BLS certifications required
• Prophecy Dysrhythmia Exam required 24-48 hours prior to acceptance (max 2 attempts; failure results in 6-month disqualification in region)
• No first-time travelers accepted
• Must have natural hair color and no facial piercings
• Male candidates must be clean-shaven for fit testing
• Must be able to pass a Day 1 pass/fail exam during orientation
• SIMs Lab competency required for Foley catheter insertion and central line dressing changes (pass/fail)
• Must be competent in sterile field maintenance
• Must have own vehicle if part of a travel team
• Cannot hold concurrent contracts with Dignity AZ
• Must have been off CommonSpirit permanent staff for 12 months to qualify for travel assignment
• Minimum contract length: 13 weeks

Additional Notes

• Weekly orientations on Mondays (except holidays)
• Parking assigned with shuttle service to facility; night shift parking in garage
• Candidates may be expected to precept nursing students
• Floating includes medical-surgical telemetry floors
• Day 1 exam study guide provided
• Facility enforces strict onboarding deadlines; incomplete files delay start date

Contract Length

• Minimum 13 weeks (approximately 3 months)

This position is ideal for experienced Neuro ICU nurses with strong critical care skills, trauma experience, and prior travel assignments who are comfortable working in a high-acuity, teaching hospital environment.