Surgical ICU RN
Orange, California
University of California Irvine Medical Center

Registered Nurse - ICU

Location: Orange, California Unit: Surgical ICU (24-bed critical care unit) Employment Type: Travel/Contract Contract Length: 13 weeks Shift: Day, 3x12-hour shifts (7:00 to 19:30), 12 hours per day, 36 hours per week

Unit Description

Surgical ICU cares for patients with trauma, kidney transplants, general surgery, ENT, hepatobiliary, neurosurgery, plastics reconstructive surgery, and pediatric needs.

Required Qualifications

• RN License: Valid RN license in California.
• SICU Experience: Surgical Intensive Care experience of at least 1 year.
• Recent SICU Experience: Surgical Intensive Care experience within the last year.
• ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support issued by American Heart Association or RQI.
• NIHSS: NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification.
• Education: Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Epic: Experience with Epic.

Competencies and Exams

• Medication/pharmacology exam: Required for RNs.
• Unit-specific competency exam: Required.
• Arrhythmia recognition assessment (EKG exam): Required for ICU nurses. It has 10 questions, each worth 2 points, and requires an 80% passing score. Ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, third-degree heart block, and asystole must be identified correctly with the correct intervention.
• Infection control/bloodborne pathogens exam: Required for all clinical candidates. The full exam is required. CORE exams are not accepted in its place. A score of 80% or higher is needed to pass.

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam: Required within 1 year of start and updated annually.
• N95 fit test: Required within 1 year of start and renewed annually. If a candidate fails the N95 fit test, PAPR documentation is accepted, but proof of the failed N95 fit test is needed.
• Tetanus/diphtheria/Tdap: Required. If a candidate cannot receive it for a health reason, a Pertussis titer showing immunity is needed. Declining Tdap without immunity results in cancellation.
• TB screening: A negative PPD, TSpot, or QuantiFERON-Gold within 1 year of start is required. PPDs are acceptable if marked negative, even if larger than 0 mm. For a positive TB result, a negative chest X-ray within 4 years and an annual TB questionnaire are required.
• Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella: A positive titer or 2 vaccines after age 1 is required. Negative or equivocal titers require 2 boosters, and the candidate may start with the 2nd booster pending.
• Hepatitis B: A vaccine series or declination is required. A titer is not acceptable.
• Hepatitis C: A titer is strongly preferred. A declination is accepted if necessary, but it must give a reason and cannot be blank or "N/A."
• Drug screen: A 9-panel drug screen within 1 year of start is required. An instant drug screen is acceptable. Annual renewal is not required.
• Flu vaccine: Required by 12/5 for the 2026-27 season. Declinations are accepted, but candidates who decline must follow seasonal masking guidelines. Vaccines are offered onsite. Candidates who are fully vaccinated may be exempt from universal masking in certain areas.

Background and Documentation

• Criminal background check: Required within 1 year of start and updated annually. The 7-year search must include statewide, nationwide, sex offender, SS trace, and federal searches. Open cases and DUIs within the last 5 years result in automatic cancellation.
• References: Two references are required within 1 year of start, completed in the current specialty. They must come from a leadership role such as department manager, supervisor, charge nurse, nurse manager, or assistant nurse manager.
• Pre-start and onboarding documents: Confidentiality agreement (must be completed within 72 hours of signing), unit-specific job description, Pyxis agreement (due 5 business days before orientation), epidural pain policy review, standard of care: skin care attestation, ICU traveler tip sheet (sign the last page), traveler acknowledgement, and a signed HIPAA acknowledgement.