ICU Registered Nurse
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

Job Opportunity: ICU Registered Nurse (RN)

Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Overview

Seeking an experienced ICU RN to provide critical care in a 16-bed Medical ICU unit. The unit cares for patients with sepsis, respiratory failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, DKA, STEMI, COVID, and other acute conditions.

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)
• PALS & TNCC preferred but not required

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years ICU experience preferred (higher years of experience take precedence)
• Experience with drips, ventilators, BiPAPs required
• Must be able to titrate drips such as vasopressors and sedation medications (e.g., levophed, neosynephrine, cardene, precedex, propofol)
• Prior travel experience preferred but not mandatory

Unit Details

• Nurse to patient ratio: 2:1
• No nurse aides or patient care technicians on the unit
• Hospitalist coverage 24/7 in-house
• Intensivist coverage during daytime hours, telemedicine support at night
• Respiratory Therapist shared with ER, RT handles all ventilator adjustments
• Centralized telemonitor techs offsite; nurses must be able to read and verify cardiac monitor strips (Draeger monitors)

Scheduling & Shifts

• 12-hour night shifts: 1830 to 0700
• Every third weekend required
• Holiday coverage includes 4th of July
• No self-scheduling or guaranteed block scheduling
• Floating to Progressive Care Unit (PCU) possible if ICU census is low
• Orientation: 1 shift ICU + 1 shift PCU

Additional Requirements & Policies

• Must pass a 90% score on a pass/fail open book skills exam during orientation
• Radius rule: Candidates must live within 50 miles and cannot have worked full-time, part-time, or PRN within the past year at any facility associated with CommonSpirit (including CHI or Dignity)
• Valid driver’s license required at submission
• Artificial nails prohibited in all patient care areas; refusal to comply results in contract termination
• Dress code: Navy blue scrubs

This position is ideal for ICU RNs with solid critical care skills, comfortable with drips and ventilator management, and able to work night shifts with weekend and holiday requirements.