RN Critical Care

Job Title Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Job Summary Join a dynamic 30-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Chicago, Illinois, recognized as a comprehensive stroke center. This unit provides high-acuity care across various specialties, including Medical ICU (MICU), Neuro Surgical ICU (Neuro SICU), and Surgical ICU (SICU). The ideal candidate will deliver expert nursing care to a diverse critical patient population, encompassing complex medical conditions such as sepsis, GI bleed, COPD, CHF, and DKA, as well as post-surgical patients from general GI, neuro/spinal, cath lab, and interventional radiology procedures. Experience with comprehensive stroke patients is essential. This role involves managing advanced life support, assisting with critical bedside procedures, interpreting complex hemodynamic data, and utilizing the EPIC electronic health record system. Flexibility to float to other ICU areas based on patient census is a key expectation. Key Responsibilities Provide direct patient care to critically ill patients across medical, surgical, and neurological specialties. Manage patients requiring mechanical ventilation, BiPAP/AVAPS, and various oxygen delivery methods. Administer and titrate multiple vasoactive medications according to patient needs. Assist physicians with bedside procedures including intubation/extubation, central line placement, arterial line placement, chest tube insertion, thoracentesis, TEEs, and cardioversions. Interpret and respond to invasive hemodynamic values (CO, CI, SVV, CVP, SvO2). Care for patients undergoing general GI surgical procedures, stroke/neuro procedures (craniectomy, hemicraniectomy, spinal surgeries), cath lab interventions, and interventional radiology procedures. Manage patients with acute and chronic conditions such as sepsis, GI Bleed, COPD exacerbations, CHF, and DKA. Utilize EPIC electronic health record system for comprehensive documentation and patient management. Float to other ICU units as needed based on patient census and facility needs. Required Qualifications Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois. Demonstrated experience in a high-acuity Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting (Medical, Surgical, or Neuro ICU). Proficiency with EPIC electronic health record system. Experience assisting with bedside procedures: intubation/extubation, central line placement, arterial line placement, chest tube insertion, thoracentesis, TEEs, and cardioversions. Experience managing patients on mechanical ventilators, BiPAP/AVAPS, and other oxygen delivery methods. Experience managing patients on multiple vasoactive medications. Experience with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) patients, and Stroke patients. Ability to interpret invasive hemodynamic values (Cardiac Output/Index, Stroke Volume Variation, Central Venous Pressure, Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation). Preferred Qualifications Experience with open heart patients (CABG, valve surgeries, AAA). Comprehensive stroke experience including External Ventricular Drain (EVD) management, thrombectomy, and Tenecteplase (TNK) administration. Experience managing patients on assist devices such as Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), Impella, and CRRT (Prisma). Experience with prone positioning. Experience with initiation and maintenance of paralytics, including Train-of-Four (TOF) and Bispectral Index (BIS) monitoring. Skills & Competencies Clinical Skills: Advanced cardiac life support, critical care assessment, ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, medication titration (vasoactives), post-operative care, neurological assessment, stroke protocols, CRRT management, assist device management (IABP, Impella). Equipment: Mechanical ventilators, BiPAP/AVAPS machines, arterial lines, central lines, chest tubes, CRRT machines (Prisma), IABP, Impella, EVDs, cardiac monitors, defibrillators. Soft Skills: Critical thinking, problem-solving, strong communication (verbal and written), teamwork, adaptability, ability to perform under pressure, attention to detail, empathy, patient advocacy. Shift Details Shift Type: Night Shift Shift Duration: 12.5 hours per shift Days per Week: 3 days per week Hours: 7:00 PM - 7:30 AM Contract Length: 13 weeks (August 31, 2026 - November 29, 2026) Weekend Rotation: Every other weekend Holiday Rotation: Every other holiday Call Requirements: Not specified. Additional Scheduling Notes: If a sick call occurs on a weekend (Friday 7:00 PM - Monday 7:00 AM), the associate is required to work the following weekend. Floating to other ICU areas is an expectation if the unit experiences low census. No requested time off (RTO) will be approved during holidays. Licensing Requirements Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Illinois. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification.