Travel Nurse RN - SICU - Surgical Intensive Care
Houston, Texas
CHI Saint Luke's Health-Baylor Saint Luke's Medical Center

Nurse:Patient Ratios: 1:2, 1:3 depending on downgrade/acuity/emergency admit (infrequent when staffed)

Common diagnoses/Types of patients: mesothelioma, thoracic aortic dissection, esophagectomy, lung decortications SICU overflow including multiple varieties of general surgery

Experience or 'Must have' skills: early recognition of change in patient condition, clear communication and escalation with providers, critical thinking skills, CRRT preferred, hemodynamic monitoring, chest tubes, ventilator, various drains/surgical sites

Are RNs required to titrate drips? yes

Common titratable &/or set rate drips: vasopressin, epinephrine, levophed, heparin, dobutamine, dopamine, versed, hydromorphone, fentanyl, ketamine, nimbex, esmolol, cardene

Hospitalist &/or Intensivist in house 24/7? In the ICU 24/7? yes, intensivist on unit days and/or nights, APP's on unit 24/7

RT in ICU 24/7? yes

RT Equipment (Vents, Cpap, BiPap, High Flow, etc.): Are RNs required to do anything with these besides trouble shoot? not really

Are there Tele/Monitor Techs on this unit? Are RNs required to read their own strips? What brand are the tele monitors? no techs, yes, RN reads strip - Phillips monitors

Must have skills: early recognition of change in patient condition, ability to communicate clearly and escalate concerns with providers, possession of critical thinking skills, CRRT preferred

Ability to titrate drips is required

Team movement to balance schedules on their own

Management finalizes the schedule balancing process

Weekend Requirements: 4-6 days in 6 weeks depending on coverage

Holiday Requirements: please check with management

Call or standby requirement: may be flexed off if census is low, standby only if unit closes for low census

Floating Requirements: sequence for floating defined

Are there nurse aids/patient care techs on this unit? Ratios? Duties? intermittent, dependent on census, ratios 1:12 when present. Patient ADL's, blood glucose checks, transport assist