Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse
Austin, Texas
Ascension Seton Northwest

Job Opportunity: RN ICU - Travel Position

Location: Austin, Texas
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

The ICU RN provides comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care to critically ill adult patients requiring continuous monitoring, advanced interventions, and complex clinical decision-making. The RN acts as a patient advocate, clinical expert, and collaborative team member in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 1 year ICU experience (highest required years of experience)
• Prior travel experience: Not explicitly required

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care following established policies and protocols
• Care for critically ill adult patients, including those on mechanical ventilation, vasoactive infusions, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and post-operative/post-procedural critical care
• Perform ongoing detailed patient assessments and reassessments
• Interpret and respond to cardiac rhythms, lab results, arterial blood gases, and hemodynamic data
• Titrate medications per provider orders and unit protocols
• Identify subtle changes in patient condition and initiate timely interventions
• Manage emergency situations including codes, rapid deterioration, and complex procedures

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Good communication skills
• Proactive and strong initiative
• Integrity and responsibility
• Commitment to patient and family advocacy
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork abilities
• Foundational knowledge of pathophysiology

Required Certifications & Licenses

• BLS (AHA required)
• ACLS (AHA required)
• Current RN license with primary source verification within 30 days prior to start
• Nursys verification within 30 days prior to start
• NIH Certification (updated yearly)
• Ascension Specialty Exam (passing score required)
• Ascension Core Competencies (updated yearly)
• Ascension EKG Exam (passing score required)
• Other Ascension-specific onboarding and competency requirements

Health & Safety Requirements

• MMR vaccination or positive IGG titer (no declinations accepted)
• Fit Test (annual, preferred prior to start)
• Hepatitis B vaccination series or signed declination
• Influenza vaccine (seasonal, exemptions accepted with mask requirement)
• TB screening: Positive IGRA or PPD results, negative chest X-ray within 1 year, and annual TB questionnaire
• Varicella vaccination or immunity proof (no declinations accepted)
• Tdap vaccination (valid for 10 years, no declinations accepted)
• 12 Panel Drug Screen within 30 days prior to start, updated annually

Additional Requirements

• Health statement or physical exam prior to first assignment, updated annually
• Driver’s License/State ID (valid, matching address requirements)
• Criminal background check, EPLS, employment and education verifications as per Ascension policies
• Professional references and other standard onboarding documentation

This position is ideal for ICU RNs with at least one year of critical care experience seeking a travel assignment in a high-acuity environment.