According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Registered Nursing is one of the top 10 occupations with the largest job growth. Registered Nurses travel jobs and assignments are available in every state and the specialty list continues to grow as well. Room for continuous growth and expanding of your career in the Nursing and healthcare field is a great asset for this type of work as well. Expand your career and your experience and explore our beautiful country at the same time!

SICU RN Surgical Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurses provide care focused on the assessment, diagnosis, planning, treatment and evaluation of patients who require intensive and intermediate care. Patients are normally admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit from the Operating Room, Emergency Department and from the general population postoperatively after surgical procedures for monitoring or as a trauma referral from another hospital. Most patients in these units require monitoring and/or interventional therapy at intervals ranging between 1-2 hours.

SICU Registered Nurses specialize in providing care in Surgical Intensive Care Units of hospitals and are always in high demand. The percentage of critically ill patients requiring expert care continues to rise as health care advances. RNs also work in specialized units and sometimes provide care to people of all ages, though most provide care to either children or adults. RN SICU nurses must be proficient in a wide variety of high-level nursing skills and need to be experts in evaluating and administering care, while recognizing complications. A successful SICU RN will excel at interpersonal communication, leadership, strategic planning, critical thinking and decision-making. Intensive Care Nursing is a complex and challenging specialty and these nurses must use their advanced skills to care for critically ill and high risk patients.

The Surgical Intensive Care Unit is a fast paced and complex workplace and is best suited to nurses that are highly energetic and self motivated RNs who work well in a challenging and busy unit. Trauma Resuscitation nursing is recommended for the SICU RN who demonstrates highly advanced skills in patient assessment/intervention, teamwork, crisis management and assertiveness. The SICU offers a wide variety of opportunities for advanced patient care using the latest technologies and computer documentation.

Activities of the RN SICU may include:

Pulmonary artery pressures

Intra-abdominal pressures

Hemodynamic (arterial, central venous) pressure

Fluid and electrolyte monitoring

ICP

Pbt02

Arterial/venous oxygenation and capnography monitoring

Brain temperature

Vasoactive and inotropic therapy

CVVH

Respiratory management for both the breathing and mechanically-ventilated patient

Massive volume resuscitation

Bispectral index

Postoperative recovery

Specialized wound care

Nutritional therapy

Burst suppression ratios and peripheral nerve stimulation for neuromuscular blockade

Medication management

Comfort/sedation measures as indicated

Education of the patient and family members as well as emotional support related to the patient’s condition and treatment is an important element to the nursing care provided.