Travel Nurse RN - SICU - Surgical Intensive Care

GHG Healthcare is a renowned leader in international allied health and nursing professional recruitment, boasting over 18 years of experience placing hundreds of nurses and allied health professionals across the United States. The company prides itself on its compassionate, understanding, and attentive approach to the placement process, ensuring that both healthcare professionals and employers find the best possible matches for their needs. This longstanding reputation makes GHG Healthcare a trusted partner for travel nursing assignments nationwide, offering exceptional career opportunities and support to its healthcare workforce.

GHG Healthcare is currently seeking a travel nurse registered nurse (RN) specialized in SICU - Surgical Intensive Care for an exciting travel nursing position located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This opportunity offers a unique chance for experienced critical care nurses to work in a cutting-edge, high-acuity hospital environment. The role is a travel assignment with a duration of one week, requiring 36 hours per week scheduled over 12-hour night shifts. The estimated gross weekly pay is $2,304.32, with a pay package structured around 12-hour shifts and 36 hours per week, including a tax-free stipend amount to be determined.

The position involves working within a 12-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at a medical center that operates a comprehensive cardiac surgery program. Nurses in this role provide critical post-operative care to open heart patients, typically in the first one to two days post-operation. The SICU maintains standard ICU patient ratios, usually one nurse to two patients unless acuity levels dictate otherwise, ensuring quality, focused care. Nurses will participate in participative scheduling but should expect a minimum of three weekend shifts per month and be prepared for some degree of shift flexibility as block scheduling is not guaranteed. Floating to other units such as the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) or medical-surgical units is also required to meet facility staffing needs.

The role demands proficiency with advanced critical care technologies, including the Impella heart pump and the Hemosphere advanced monitoring platform, alongside standard ICU equipment. Nurses in this position utilize the Meditech documentation system and perform clinical procedures such as intubations, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and hemodynamic monitoring. As part of the critical care team, they respond promptly to rapid response and code blue emergencies, requiring solid experience in cardiac critical care settings. Certifications in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) are mandatory, while the Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) credential is preferred. Navy scrubs are required attire to maintain the hospital’s uniform standards.

Beyond technical skills, this role places a strong emphasis on maintaining patient experience standards, which include clear communication about care and medications, treating patients with courtesy and respect, and timely responses to call lights. This blended approach to both clinical and patient-centered care supports the facility’s mission of delivering exemplary healthcare services.

Situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the hospital benefits from the city's vibrant setting, which offers an attractive blend of outdoor recreation opportunities and urban amenities—features that contribute to a high quality of life for traveling nurses. Chattanooga’s scenic views of the Tennessee River and surrounding mountains, combined with affordable living costs and a thriving cultural scene, make this an appealing location for healthcare professionals seeking both career advancement and lifestyle balance.

GHG Healthcare is committed to equal employment opportunity, ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. This commitment reflects the company’s values of diversity and inclusion.

Physically, the role requires the ability to perform essential functions including standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, and occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. The demands may vary based on specific client-site requirements but emphasize the active and dynamic nature of nursing in a critical care environment. Overall, this travel nurse SICU position with GHG Healthcare offers a challenging yet rewarding opportunity for experienced critical care nurses to contribute to specialized post-operative cardiac care while enjoying the benefits of a supportive travel nursing agency and a desirable location.