Travel Nurse RN - ICU - Intensive Care Unit
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Broward Health Medical Center

Registered Nurse - ICU Stepdown Unit

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit & Shift Details

• 29-bed Stepdown Unit (not Telemetry or ICU, but similar to IMCU)
• Patient population includes Telemetry and Stepdown patients
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:3
• Day shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM - 7:30 PM)
• Every other weekend and holidays as needed
• Must be willing to float to other Telemetry floors as needed

Required Experience & Skills

• Minimum 2 years recent Stepdown experience within the last 3 years
• Experienced ICU nurses with either:

  • 2 years minimum experience plus an 80-hour critical care course, OR
  • 5 years experience in acute care ICU
• Heavy patient load; patients require total care
• Unit operates like ICU but without ventilators
• Clinical skills required:

  • Airway management
  • Management of dysrhythmias
  • Central line management
  • IV drips
  • Isolation precautions
  • Interpretation of ABGs
  • Management of patients with multisystem organ dysfunction/failure
• Must have Epic electronic health record experience

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Active Florida RN license (Compact license accepted)
• ACLS (American Heart Association or American Red Cross)
• BLS (American Heart Association or American Red Cross)
• NIH Stroke Certification (AHA, Apex, Blue Cloud, or equivalent)

Education Requirements

• Degree from an accredited school or an institution approved by the Florida Board of Nursing
• Must have 2 years recent acute care experience within the past 24 months in a U.S. hospital (consecutive)

Health & Compliance Requirements

• Physical exam within 6 months of start, signed by DO, MD, NP, APRN, or PA, confirming ability to perform job without restrictions
• Negative QuantiFERON TB test within 6 months (TSPOT and PPD not accepted); if prior positive, chest X-ray within 2 years required
• Annual TB questionnaire
• Immunizations or proof of immunity required for:

  • Measles (Rubeola) - 2 MMR vaccines or positive titer (declination accepted)
  • Mumps - 2 MMR vaccines or positive titer (declination accepted)
  • Rubella - 2 MMR vaccines or positive titer (declination accepted)
  • Hepatitis B series, titer, or signed declination
  • Varicella - 2 vaccines, positive titer, or declination
• Annual flu vaccination or declination during flu season (Oct 1 - Mar 31)
• Negative 10-panel drug screen within 12 months (instant tests not accepted)
• Annual fit mask test with approved 3M 1860 masks (no exemptions or alternate masks allowed)

Background & Documentation

• Background check within 6 months including all locations lived/worked/schooled in past 7 years; updated annually
• Education verification required; if unverifiable, 2 years acute care experience within past 3 years required
• Florida AHCA Level II fingerprint clearance required prior to start; results must be dated within 30 days of start
• Two professional references from within the last 2 years required

Mandatory Training & Competencies

• Completion of online orientation and multiple required modules including but not limited to:

  • Privacy Policy, AHCA Affidavit, Demographic Information
  • ICU Medical modules (e.g., IV medication administration, spiro attachments)
  • Stroke and Stroke Core Measures Review
  • Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace
  • PPE Donning and Doffing for COVID-19
  • Annual Risk Management, Compliance & Ethics, Code of Conduct, Emergency Management, Harassment Prevention
  • Medication Test/Pharmacology Competency Exam
  • Dysphagia and Aspiration Precautions
  • End of Life Care
  • Procedural Sedation Adults and Pediatrics
  • Bedside Instrument Cleaning & Transport
  • Safe Injection Practices (if applicable)
  • Blood Administration & Anticoagulant Therapy
• Certificates of completion must be saved and submitted as required

Additional Notes

• Locals within a 60-mile radius considered
• Heavy patient load requiring ICU-level skills without ventilator management
• Must be flexible to float to other Telemetry units as needed

This position is ideal for ICU-trained RNs seeking a challenging Stepdown unit role with a high acuity patient population.