Neuro ICU Nurse
Phoenix, Arizona
Saint Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

Neuro ICU Travel Nurse Opportunity - Phoenix, Arizona

Specialty & Experience Requirements

• Specialty: Neuro ICU
• Required ICU Experience: Minimum 2 years of ICU experience in a large hospital (450+ beds)
• Level 1 Trauma Experience: Required
• Prior Travel Experience: 3-6 months travel experience required
• Prior Travel Experience for Neuro ICU: Previous travel experience specifically required for Neuro ICU
• Certifications: BLS, ACLS required
• EMR: Cerner experience required

Contract Details

• Contract Length: 13 weeks minimum (facility will not consider contracts shorter than 13 weeks)
• Shift: 12-hour shifts (7am-7pm or 7pm-7am)
• Weekend & Holiday Coverage: 4 weekend shifts per 4 weeks; holidays based on unit coverage and work into core staff rotation
• Charge Nurse: Yes, charge nurse role available but does not take patients
• Patient Ratios: 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio in Neuro ICU; when floating to Tele units, ratio may be 4:1

Unit & Facility Highlights

• Unit Size: 32 beds in Neuro ICU
• Hospital Size: Large hospital (450+ beds)
• Trauma Level: Level 1 Trauma center
• Common Diagnoses: Critical care patients with neurological diagnoses including craniotomies, brain tumor removals and ablations, brain biopsies, complicated spine surgeries, and scoliosis repair
• Neuro Skills: Strong neuro assessment skills and ICP (intracranial pressure) monitoring experience required
• Floating: Required to float between all ICU floors and Telemetry units; Telemetry patients have a 4:1 ratio
• Telemetry: Phillips monitors used
• Ventilators: Yes, ventilated patients on unit
• Respiratory Therapy: Available 24/7
• Pharmacy: Available 24/7

Orientation & Onboarding

• Orientation: 2 shifts of floor-specific orientation required
• Weekly Orientations: Held on Mondays (except holiday weeks)
• Onboarding Deadline: All onboarding paperwork must be completed by 1pm CST Wednesday before start date; incomplete files will delay start
• SIMs Lab: Required for Foley catheter insertion and central line dressing changes (pass/fail). Neuro ICU nurses only need to complete Foley catheter insertion. Competency in sterile technique is critical.
• Day 1 Pass/Fail Exam: Required on first day of orientation (study guide provided)

Additional Requirements & Notes

• Prophecy Dysrhythmia Exam: Must be passed 24-48 hours prior to position acceptance; maximum 2 attempts allowed. Failure results in 6-month disqualification from assignments in this region.
• Appearance Standards: No facial piercings; only natural hair colors allowed; men must be clean-shaven for fit testing
• Vehicle: Travel teams must have their own vehicles
• Teaching Hospital: Nursing students may be present as this is a teaching hospital
• Floating: Nurses must be willing and able to float to multiple ICU and Telemetry units
• Patient Care: Includes care for complex neurological cases and critical care patients
• Other: Must have experience with EVD (external ventricular drain)

This position is ideal for experienced Neuro ICU nurses with strong neuro assessment skills, prior travel experience, and the ability to work in a Level 1 Trauma teaching hospital environment.