Registered Nurse – Critical Care Float Pool

Department Overview

More than a job. A place to grow, thrive, and make a difference.

At OHSU, we believe exceptional patient care begins with supporting the nurses who provide it. Our Critical Care Float Pool is seeking compassionate, skilled, and motivated Registered Nurses who want to practice at the highest level while maintaining a healthy, fulfilling life outside of work.

We are building a culture where nurses feel valued, supported, heard, and empowered. Here, professional growth, safe staffing, work-life balance, and meaningful collaboration are not just promises—they are priorities.

OHSU Specialty Critical Care Float Pool nurses provide high-quality, innovative and compassionate family-centered nursing care. Critical Care Float Pool nurses support adult critical care units and individually selected additional units such as Emergency Department, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Neurological Intermediate Care Unit. Critical Care Float Pool nurses support these units for selected planned and unplanned absences and for other staffing deficits.

With your ICU clinical expertise, you'll be able to seamlessly integrate into all 4 Adult ICU areas (Medical, Cardiovascular, Neuroscience, and Trauma/Surgical), and build/maintain your device competencies (ECMO, CRRT, IABP, etc). Apply now and find out what sets us apart (and keeps us together). Your critical care skills remain in adult critical care - there is a separate float pool for acute med/surg areas.

Function/Duties of Position

$55.24 - $92.02 per hour, based on RN Degree and level of experience

Why choose our Critical Care Float Pool?

1. Professional growth and career advancement

Your career should never stand still. We invest in your professional development through:

• Specialty certification support, including CCRN preparation and examination reimbursement.
• Opportunities to attend professional conferences, workshops, and clinical training (CRRT, ECMO, precepting, charge RN, and hospital code blue responder, and more).
• Career pathways into clinical leadership, education, advanced practice, and specialty roles.
• Shared governance opportunities that give nurses a voice in decisions affecting patient care.

2. Quality of life and work-life balance

We recognize that caring for critically ill patients is demanding. Your well-being matters just as much as the care you provide. Our workplace initiatives include:

• Dedicated wellness day in addition to regular vacation and sick time.
• Self-scheduling to promote greater control over your work-life balance.
• Employee assistance and mental health resources.
• Robust DAISY and staff recognition programs.

3. Safe staffing and minimum nurse-to-patient ratios

Patient safety is our priority. We believe safe staffing is fundamental to excellent patient outcomes and sustainable nursing practice. Our ICU staffing commitment includes:

• A maximum 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio for appropriately staffed ICU assignments.
• Acuity-based staffing decisions that account for patient complexity and changing clinical needs.
• A commitment to escalating staffing concerns and addressing unsafe assignments.
• Staffing practices that prioritize patient safety and protect nurses from chronic overload.

4. Interprofessional collaboration

Critical care requires exceptional teamwork. We foster an environment where every discipline contributes to better patient outcomes. You will work alongside a robust interprofessional teams that includes social work, pharmacists, physical/occupational therapists, etc… Through interdisciplinary bedside rounds, collaborative care planning, open communication, and shared decision-making, we ensure that every team member's expertise and perspective are valued.

5. Mentorship and supportive leadership

Whether you are transitioning into critical care or bringing years of ICU experience, you deserve a supportive environment. We offer:

• Dedicated preceptors and experienced clinical mentors during orientation period.
• Ongoing mentorship beyond initial orientation, including peer-to-peer learning and clinical case discussions.
• Supportive nurse leaders who promote psychological safety and open communication.
• Opportunities to develop clinical judgment, leadership skills, and confidence in complex patient situations.

If you have any questions about the position, reach out to Nurse Manager Nick Fox at [email protected] 

Required Qualifications

• 18 months recent adult critical care RN experience in a high-acuity critical care setting
• Associate or Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)
• BSN preferred
• Associate Degree Nurses required to enroll in BSN program within 3 years of hire and complete within 5 years of hire.
• Current, unencumbered Oregon RN License
• BLS and ACLS from AHA required. New hires will be enrolled and required to complete during orientation.
• Float to a variety of assigned units; sufficient time management, flexibility, and prioritization skills to float up to every 4 hours if necessary
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years critical care RN experience in a high-acuity critical care setting
• CCRN certification or other applicable critical care specialty certification
• Experience in a float pool

Additional Details

• Length of Orientation – Experienced Nurse 

  • External candidates: OHSU & Nursing New Employee Orientation (NEO) for about a week. 
  • Orientation experience for 3 days-26 weeks depending on the care area. 

2 positions available

This position also comes with great benefits! Some highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care plans. Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents
• $25K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from
• Vacation: 192 to 288 hours per year depending on length of service, prorated for part-time.
• Sick Leave: 96 hours per year for full time
• Holidays: up to 64 holiday hours per calendar year (employees accrue .0308 holiday hours for each hour paid.
• Substantial public transportation discounts (Tri-met and C-Tran)
• Tuition Reimbursement program
• Innovative Employee Assistance Program (EAP) including extensive wellness resources

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon’s only public academic health center.

In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research.  We also train the next generation of health care professionals.  As Portland’s largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

All are welcome.

OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations.  We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply.

To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected]