Travel ICU Nurse (Neuro/Cardiac)
Chandler, Arizona
Chandler Regional Medical Center

ICU Nurse Opportunity - Chandler, Arizona

Position Overview

• Requires 3 full years of recent ICU experience (no exceptions).
• Experience must include either neuro or cardiovascular (CV) ICU.
• Active certifications required: BLS, ACLS, NIHSS; TNCC preferred.
• Must hold an active Arizona license or compact license.
• Travelers must pass a dysrhythmia exam (max 2 attempts) 24-48 hours prior to acceptance.
• Pass/fail Sim Lab on Day 1 of orientation.
• Flexibility required; may float between multiple ICU units.
• Typically scheduled every other weekend, but may require up to 3 weekends per month during busy periods.
• Self-scheduling allowed, but manager may balance shifts for unit needs.
• No additional call or standby shifts required.
• May be low censused up to 3 times per contract.
• Contract length: 13 weeks.

Units & Patient Population

Surgical ICU - Trauma Neuro Surgery

• 32 beds.
• Nurse:Patient ratio: 1:2 or 1:1.
• Level 1 trauma center.
• Common diagnoses: Falls, gunshot wounds, blunt trauma, motor vehicle accidents, trauma patients over age 15, ex-lap, craniotomy, specialty neuro-surgery cases, CVA, status post-TPA, COVID, sepsis, ARDS.
• RNs required to titrate drips.
• Charge nurse role available (does not take patients).
• No nurse aides on unit; sitters and Health Unit Secretary available.
• Hospitalist or intensivist in-house 24/7.
• Respiratory therapist (RT) coverage 24/7.
• RT equipment includes Dreager, Hamilton, Puritan Bennett 840, V60s BiPAP, Airvo.
• No tele/monitor techs; RNs interpret their own cardiac strips (GE monitors).
• Scrub color: Navy.
• Orientation: 1-2 days.
• Floating expected between sister ICUs (medical/cardiac and overflow units).

Medical ICU - Medical Cardiac + Overflow

• 36 medical cardiac beds + 12 overflow beds.
• Nurse:Patient ratio: 1:2 or 1:1.
• Common diagnoses: Sepsis, COVID, CRRT (not required), DKA, flu, ARDS, vascular surgeries.
• CVICU cases include on/off pump CABG, valve surgeries, post-cath care, TAVR, IABP, Impella, ECMO (new as of 3/2022), Tandem Heart, esophagectomies.
• RNs required to titrate drips.
• Charge nurse role available (does not take patients).
• No nurse aides on unit; sitters and Health Unit Secretary available.
• Hospitalist or intensivist in-house 24/7.
• RT coverage 24/7 with same equipment as Surgical ICU.
• No tele/monitor techs; RNs interpret their own cardiac strips (GE monitors).
• Scrub color: Navy.
• Orientation: 1-2 days.
• Floating to telemetry unit as needed (ratios 1:3 or 1:4).

Clinical Skills & Responsibilities

• Must be comfortable titrating drips including: Propofol, fentanyl, versed, precedex, morphine, dilaudid, ketamine, rocuronium, levophed, vasopressin, cardene, labetalol, dopamine, dobutamine, heparin, insulin.
• Charge nurse duties available but do not include patient assignments.
• Expected to float between multiple ICU units including trauma, neuro, medical cardiac, and telemetry.
• Must be able to interpret cardiac telemetry strips independently.

Scheduling & Work Environment

• Self-scheduling with manager oversight.
• Weekend requirement: 3 weekend shifts per 4-week schedule.

  • Night shift weekends: Friday-Saturday.
  • Day shift weekends: Saturday-Sunday.
• May have 1 holiday off per assignment.
• No additional call or standby shifts.
• May be low censused up to 3 times during contract.
• Scrub color: Navy.

Additional Notes

• Level 1 trauma or neuro ICU experience preferred but not required.
• Prior experience in a similar size ICU unit preferred.
• Floating includes medical/cardiac ICU, trauma neuro ICU, and telemetry.
• Radius rule: Candidates must be outside a 50-mile radius and not currently or recently employed (full-time, part-time, or PRN) with certain affiliated healthcare systems within the past year.

This position is ideal for experienced ICU nurses seeking a challenging and diverse critical care environment with opportunities to work across multiple specialized ICU units.