Description

American Traveler is seeking an experienced RN for a CCU (Critical Care Unit) position at a Critical Access Hospital, requiring a minimum of 3 years of CCU experience and charge nurse experience, with the ability to manage vents, drips, and respiratory equipment independently on nights.

Details

• 6-bed CCU unit within an acute care Critical Access Hospital (CAH), Level 4 Trauma facility
• Patient population includes CHF, pneumonia, COPD, sepsis, and DKA; provider-performed procedures include central line insertions, thoracentesis, and paracentesis
• CCU nurses are responsible for titrating drips including Cardizem, insulin, norepinephrine, and others
• Respiratory equipment on unit includes CPAP, BiPAP (V60), Vapotherm, and Hamilton ventilator; RT coverage is limited to daytime weekday hours — CCU nurses manage BiPAP, vents, and respiratory treatments on nights and weekends
• No monitor techs on unit — CCU nurses monitor telemetry; nurses may not leave the unit without coverage from the House Supervisor
• No in-house hospitalist or intensivist — patients are managed by their private physicians; ER physician responds to emergencies and codes
• Nurse-to-patient ratio goal is 1:2, but may reach up to 1:4 depending on acuity and MedSurg/Peds census
• Nurse aide support available with a goal ratio of 1:6 on days and 1:8 on nights, varying by census and staffing
• Charting system: MEDITECH
• Night shift, 12-hour shifts (7 PM start), three shifts per week
• 6-week cyclic scheduling; schedule requests accommodated when possible but block scheduling is not guaranteed
• Every third weekend required, including Fri/Sat/Sun (flexibility available for Sat/Sun/Mon if needed)
• 1 major and 1 minor holiday required depending on contract season
• Floating to MedSurg/Peds is required; cross-training to behavioral health and ER is optional but welcomed

Requirements

• Active IA RN license or Compact RN license currently in hand or willing to obtain
• Current certifications required: BLS (AHA) and ACLS (AHA)
• Preferred certifications: TNCC, NIHSS, and PALS
• Minimum 3 years of CCU experience required
• Minimum 1 year of travel nursing experience required
• Charge nurse experience required
• CAH experience preferred but not required
• Must reside within a 50-mile radius of the facility
• Must be able to independently manage ventilators, BiPAP, and respiratory treatments

Additional Information

• Charge nurse on this unit oversees both MedSurg/Peds and CCU; typically without a patient assignment but may take patients as needed
• Orientation consists of two 12-hour shifts (24 hours total)
• Scrub colors: grey, black, pink, or white in any combination
• Med drawer keys are shared among staff — nurses must retrieve a key from the Pyxis at the start of each shift and return it at the end; failure to return the key may result to a replacement fee
• Nurses are expected to be aware of and actively support the unit's current quality projects and initiatives
• A positive, team-oriented attitude and cultural buy-in are important to this unit