Travel Nurse RN - ICU - Intensive Care Unit - $2,750 per week

First Connect Health is seeking a travel nurse RN ICU - Intensive Care Unit for a travel nursing job in Mission Viejo, California.

Job Description & Requirements

• Specialty: ICU - Intensive Care Unit
• Discipline: RN
• Start Date: 12/07/2026
• Duration: 13 weeks
• 36 hours per week
• Shift: 12 hours, nights
• Employment Type: Travel

⚡ AUTO-OFFER POSITION: 36-HOUR NIGHT-SHIFT ICU FLOAT POOL RN CONTRACT – MISSION VIEJO, CA

An immediate 13-week travel contract opening with Auto-Offer status is available for an experienced Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Float Registered Nurse (RN) in Mission Viejo, California (South Orange County). Operating within an expansive 488-bed regional acute care hospital, Comprehensive Stroke Center, and verified Level II Adult & Pediatric Trauma Center, this high-compensating role features a balanced 36-hour overnight schedule (19:00 PM – 07:30 AM / 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM, three 12-hour shifts guaranteed weekly with built-in California daily overtime). AUTO-OFFER FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES! MASSIVE $1,700/WEEK TAX-FREE HOUSING & MEAL STIPEND! $2,750/WEEK GROSS PACKAGE! CALIFORNIA DAILY OVERTIME COMPENSATION INCLUDED! 1:2 ICU RATIOS! FIRST-TIME TRAVELERS WELCOME (1+ YEAR ACUTE ICU EXP)! FREE ONSITE PARKING! DECEMBER 1ST START! Based in the intensive care float pool, the critical care RN delivers advanced clinical support across specialized Neuro ICU and Surgical ICU environments, while also maintaining flexibility to float across acute inpatient units (including telemetry) based on daily operational demand. If you are an acute critical care nurse skilled in mechanical ventilation, vasoactive continuous drip titrations, arterial line management, neurological monitoring, and post-surgical recovery looking to earn $2,750/week in Southern California, this assignment is built for you!

PRE-CALCULATED PAY PACKAGE (36-Hour California OT Week)

• Weekly Gross: $2,750.00
• Weekly Tax-Free Stipend: $1,700.00
• Hourly W2 Regular Rate: $25.00/hr (24 regular hours)
• Hourly W2 Daily Overtime Rate: $37.50/hr (12 daily OT hours included via CA 8hr daily OT rules)
• (Local clinicians residing within 50 miles accepted at an adjusted local bill structure).

SHIFT & POSITION DETAILS

• Schedule: Night shifts, 3x12-Hours (19:00 PM – 07:30 AM / 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM).
• Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours guaranteed weekly (24 regular hours + 12 daily overtime hours; facility retains the right to call off one shift per two-week pay period).
• Assignment Duration: 13 Weeks (Start Date: December 1, 2026).
• Block Scheduling: Considered strictly at clinical nurse manager discretion.
• On-Call Requirements: NO ON-CALL REQUIRED!
• Weekend & Holiday Coverage: Minimum every other weekend required; weekends will likely exceed every other weekend to meet clinical staffing demands (minimum of 6 weekend shifts per contract). Must commit to working 3 of the 5 major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day).
• Department Setting & Capacity: Inpatient Critical Care Float Pool (Dept: Float Pool Pod A ICU RN / 47-bed combined ICU capacity).
• Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Ratios: Strict California mandated critical care ratios of 1:2 (or 1:1 based on patient acuity).
• Uniform / Scrub Policy: Royal Blue scrubs required (nurse-provided); free employee parking provided onsite.
• Floating Scope & Flexibility:
  • Dedicated critical care float assignment: clinician may float between different ICU units (Neuro ICU, Surgical ICU) or float down to lower acuity units (including acute telemetry/stepdown) for up to 100% of scheduled shifts.
  • May also be assigned to float to nearby regional sister medical campus locations within South Orange County as needed.
• Clinical Scope & Specialty Care:
  • Direct critical care nursing for complex multi-system organ dysfunction, acute neurotrauma, surgical critical care, and severe medical resuscitations.
  • Mechanical ventilator support, airway clearance, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP/CPAP).
  • Invasive hemodynamic surveillance: arterial lines, central venous lines, and continuous cardiac telemetry rhythm monitoring.
  • Rapid, continuous titration of critical continuous infusions: vasoactive drips, inotropes, antiarrhythmics, continuous IV sedation, and IV insulin protocols.
  • Comprehensive neurological checks, acute stroke surveillance adhering to NIHSS guidelines, and intracranial pressure monitoring.
  • Pre- and post-procedural management: bedside chest tube insertion/removal assist, sheath removal, and post-cardiac interventional care.
  • Vascular access care: peripheral IV initiation, central venous lines, PICCs, implanted ports, and blood product transfusions.
• EMR System: Epic electronic health record.

REQUISITE QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUBMISSION

• Experience Requirement: Minimum 1 full year of dedicated acute care inpatient ICU RN clinical experience (first-time travel nurses welcome and eligible for expedited Auto-Offer).
• Licensure: Active California Registered Nurse (RN) License strictly in hand at submittal (with active Nursys report; pending licenses cannot be submitted).
• Certifications Required at Submittal (Must all be active and attached):
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) — American Heart Association (AHA) only .
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) — AHA only .
  • NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Certification.
• Preferred Certifications: Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB) or Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI).

✨ APPLICATION PROCESS Avoid administrative processing delays on broad public job boards. As an Auto-Offer position , candidates with under 7 days of Requested Time Off (RTO) who match all clinical prerequisites receive expedited review and immediate contract generation. Apply directly to this posting to lock in your file with our specialized California critical care recruitment team!

Location Details: Assignment is located in Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (Dept: Float Pool Pod A ICU RN / 3217.873000.27235 / South Orange County). ⚡ Auto-Offer Requisition: Rapid auto-offer turnaround for complete candidate packets with under 7 days of RTO. ⏱️ Assignment Schedule & Hours: 13-week contract starting December 1, 2026 (36 hours guaranteed weekly on 12-hour Nights: 19:00 – 07:30; calculated with CA daily overtime; facility may call off 1 shift per 2-week pay period; 24 orientation hours). ️ Weekend & Holiday Commitment: Weekends will likely exceed every other weekend to meet unit operational needs (minimum of 6 weekend shifts per contract). Must be open and commit to working 3 out of 5 major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, NYE, NYD). Scheduling requests due to outside employment will strictly not be accommodated. Floating Scope (Hard Stop Confirmation): This is a dedicated float pool position: clinician may be floated to different ICU floors or floated down to lower acuity floors (including telemetry) for up to 100% of shifts. May be required to float to regional sister hospital campus (Laguna location). Refusal to float forfeits guaranteed hours. Local Radius & Candidate Rules: Local radius is 50 miles; locals accepted at an adjusted local bill rate. Can only be submitted to one regional health network facility at a time. No Standby Call: Zero standby on-call obligations. ️ Parking & Scrubs: Free employee parking; Royal Blue scrubs required. ️ EMR System: Epic electronic health record. Mandatory Submittal Details: Active California RN license strictly in hand at submittal (no pending licenses accepted). Active AHA BLS, AHA ACLS, and NIHSS certifications required at submittal. Full legal name, SSN, Date of Birth (DOB), and all upfront Requested Time Off (RTO > 7 days requires special client approval; post-submittal RTO will not be granted). Must include candidate answer at submittal: "Have you ever worked at an affiliated network facility as permanent, travel, or registry/per-diem? (If yes, list location and dates)." (Prior staff eligible to return after 3 months separation). Clean background/Nursys required (facility does not accept hits). Onboarding & Facility Guidelines: Orientation modules completed pre-start via Workramp (average 16 hours, non-billable). COVID-19 vaccine is not required per current facility guidelines. Time Off: All RTO must be requested upfront; strictly limit requests to under 7 days to maintain auto-offer eligibility.

About First Connect Health

At First Connect Health , we take pride in being a Joint Commission–certified healthcare staffing agency , headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. This prestigious certification is more than just a seal — it's a reflection of our commitment to excellence, safety, and quality in everything we do.

By meeting the rigorous standards set by The Joint Commission, one of the most respected accrediting bodies in healthcare, we've demonstrated that our processes, compliance, and patient care standards are aligned with the highest levels of quality in the industry.

But our dedication goes beyond certifications. Nurses choose First Connect Health because:

• ✅ Trust and Transparency: We foster honest communication, timely updates, and full transparency throughout your placement journey.
• ✅ Best Pay & Benefits: We offer industry-leading compensation packages, along with benefits that support your career goals.
• ✅ Flexibility & Choice: Whether you're seeking short-term assignments, long-term contracts, or local opportunities, we provide the flexibility to suit your preferences.
• ✅ Personalized Support: Our recruiters take the time to understand your needs, guiding you with care, respect, and responsiveness at every step.

When you work with First Connect Health, you're not just another number — you're a valued professional. Join a team that’s focused on your success, your well-being, and your future in healthcare.

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Benefits

• Sick pay
• 401k retirement plan
• Weekly pay
• Referral bonus