Stepdown RN
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson Medical Center

ICU Step Down Registered Nurse

Location: Tucson, Arizona Employment type: Travel/Contract Contract length: 13 weeks (full contract length required) Shift: Night, 3x12-hour shifts, 19:00 to 7:30 Hours: 12 hours per day, 36 hours per week

Role Overview

• Seeking ICU nurses willing to work stepdown.
• High-acuity PCU, true stepdown/mini ICU.
• Ratio of 1:3 is the gold standard; 1:4 is considered understaffed.
• Will float within scope of care.
• Patient care includes cardiac stepdown and post-op heart patients on day 1, titrating insulin, cardiac and vasoactive drips, managing tracheostomies, and arterial lines.

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Arizona
• Minimum 2 years of stepdown experience
• Stepdown experience within the last year
• One completed travel assignment
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross, not expiring within 30 days of start
• BLS issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross, not expiring within 30 days of start
• Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB) or CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) certification
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) / Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Experience with tracheostomy care
• Experience with titratable drips
• Experience with cardiac drips
• Experience with the care and management of invasive lines
• Experience with post-operative recovery
• Experience with Epic

Certifications and Compliance (confirm required items per unit)

• BLS: AHA or Red Cross only.
• ACLS: AHA or American Red Cross only.
• PALS: AHA or American Red Cross only.
• NRP: AHA only.
• EFM: AWOHNN or NCC acceptable.
• ENPC: Required for Pediatric.
• NIH Stroke Certification: If no expiration date is listed, valid for 1 year. Apex, AHA, AACME, Healthstream, and BlueCloud are acceptable; other vendors need approval.
• MAB or CPI: Any accredited certificate; only 1 of the 2 is required. CPI does not recognize certifications from independent instructors.
• Tech Cert Verification: Required for most specialties.
• Pass/fail testing (ER, CVICU, PCU, Tele, MS/Tele, Labor and Delivery): RN candidates assigned to these units must acknowledge pass/fail testing and complete an EKG assessment on the first day of orientation. Passing score is 80% or higher. A missed lethal is an automatic fail. Failing the second test puts the contract up for review.
• Competency exams: Medication/pharmacology exam required for RNs (80% or higher); specialty competency exam (80% or higher); annual HIPAA competency (80% or higher).
• Nursys verification and state license verification, run within 30 days of start.

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam: Within 1 year of start, signed by a physician, NP, or PA.
• Tdap: Full vaccine within the past 10 years; titers not accepted. Declinations allowed except for Pediatrics, PICU, Pediatric ER, Mom & Baby, and Labor & Delivery, where Tdap is mandatory.
• TB: Negative QuantiFERON Gold, T-spot, or PPD within 3 months of start, renewed annually. If positive, a chest X-ray within 1 year is required. TB symptom questionnaire within 3 months.
• MMR (rubeola, mumps, rubella) and varicella: Proof of 2 vaccines 4 weeks apart or a positive IgG titer. Declinations not accepted.
• Hepatitis B: Proof of 3 vaccines or positive titer. Declinations allowed with a form signed within the past year.
• Seasonal flu: Required Oct 1 to Apr 30; deadline is 10/31. No declinations, but medical or religious exemptions are available. New travelers must explain on the religious exemption form.
• Respirator fit test: N95 only, within 1 year, with brand and size. PAPR onsite is allowed.
• Drug screen: 12-panel, must be completed within 30 days of start.

Background and Documentation

• Background check: Started within 30 days of start, covering 7 years. Must include Pima County, AZ; OFAC; national sex offender search; and all counties and states lived or worked. Cannot be pending at start.
• Exclusion checks: EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG, run within 30 days of start.
• Driver's license or state ID: Must be current and show address.
• Employment history: 2 professional references from the last 3 years, 1 from a supervisory role. Employment application required. Work history for the last 7 years, with gaps of 30 days or more explained.
• Skills checklist: Updated annually.
• Orientation: RN orientation sign-off, traveler welcome letter (signed before start), facility job description, and review of the tobacco and vaping policy before start.

Recruiter Notes

• Recommending no first-time travelers.
• No block requests.
• No local candidates.
• Do not submit candidates to multiple positions.