Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

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Department Details

Summary

Job Description

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for a Critical Care Nurse Pathway Program position, candidates must submit an online application which includes a Resume (with detailed senior level of clinical experience) and attach or submit the following required documents, also as noted on this web site:

Critical Care Nurse Pathway Program | Sanford Health

• Area of Interest Selection (completed within online application process)
• Academic Unofficial Transcripts (upload to online application if possible
• Copy of Basic Life Support Card (upload to online application if possible)

Please upload as many documents as possible to your online application. Email any remaining documents, not uploaded to online application, to: [email protected]  ... deadline to apply is October 15th. Program start date will be February , 2027.

Collaborates with other inter-professional colleagues, including physicians, to plan, implement and evaluate care. Demonstrates competency and practices within the full scope of nursing expertise/knowledge and utilizes appropriate age and population specific standards as designated in their assigned clinical setting. Cares for patients in all phases of preventative care, health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up as patients move along the continuum of care. Responsible for the planning and coordination of care, patient assessment, patient education, triage, and various other nursing interventions. Functions within the scope and standards of nursing practice as outlined in the Nurse Practice Act and Administrative Rules in state of practice and licensure. The Sanford Professional Nursing Practice recognizes the Scope and Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements as published by the American Nurses Association as the foundation of nursing care delivery and professional conduct.

Qualifications

Graduate from an accredited nursing program required, including, but not limited to, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Bachelor’s Degree in nursing preferred.

Currently holds an unencumbered RN license with the State Board of Nursing where the practice of nursing is occurring and/or possess multistate licensure if in a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Obtains and subsequently maintains required department specific competencies and certifications.

Additional Job Description

The Critical Care Nurse Pathway Program is an intensive six-month paid multi-modality program offering classroom education, simulation lab, online and on-the-job clinical training in a tertiary care environment. 

Experienced critical care nurses are the primary educators, dedicated to providing a comprehensive and innovative approach to learning. These program leaders work collaboratively with nurse managers, supervisors, unit-based educators and other nursing colleagues to foster and support your professional growth. ​

​​​Medical/Surgical Pha​se

​​​​​This phase of the program allows the nurse to achieve clinical skill development through assigned clinical hours to gain organization, time management, prioritization and care delivery of patients with various disease processes.​

Advanced Knowledge ​Development

Assessment skills, monitoring skills, pharmacology, equipment use, medical/surgical pathology, technical skill building, admission and discharge preparations and critical laboratory interpretation. Participant also completes EKG training at this time. ​

Clinical S​​kill Development

Nurses are in the medical/surgical setting for up to 8 weeks to gain hands-on skill and knowledge in caring for patients with various disease processes. This is supervised by a preceptor and nurse educator.

Critical Care Phase

Care of the critical patient during this phase allows the nurse to develop critical care skills, knowledge of advanced critical care issues, and advanced skills. Other experiences offered through clinical and didactic training. ​

Critical Care Knowledge Development​

Advanced medication knowledge, trauma care, in-depth pathophysiology of various illnesses/injuries, organ procurement, critical care pathology, family dynamics in the critical care setting, ACLS and PALS certification for appropriate units as well as other pertinent professional certification requirements such as TNCC and ENPC.​​​​

Critical Care Skill Development

Nurses are in the critical care setting for approximately 36 hours per week to gain hands-on skill and knowledge in caring for the critical patient under direction of a preceptor and nurse educator.

Specialization opportunities

​​Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

​18 bed, Adults: Open heart recovery, neurosurgery, trauma, general surgery and continuous renal replacement therapy.​

Medical Intensive Care Un​​it (MICU) 

16 bed, Adults: MI/thrombolytic patients, CHF, cardiogenic shock, respiratory failure, GI bleed, continuous renal replacement therapy, sepsis or any other acute medical conditions requiring intensive care. ​

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) 

8 bed, Pediatrics (infants through 18 years): Including but not limited to: trauma, medical/surgical, cardiac, neuro, hematology/oncology, ortho, etc.

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) 

Adult/Pediatric: Admission and post op care of all surgical and procedural patients. Recovery of surgical & procedural patients include general surgery, ortho, neuro, thoracic, pediatric and ENT. 

Emergency Department (ED)

20 bed, Adult/Pediatric: Level II trauma center and a variety of patients. Annual census of 20,000 per year. ​

Adult critical care float pool (A-CCFP)

A position in our adult critical care float pool nurse brings the excitement of being part of a team of versatile and essential resources for our adult medical and surgical intensive care units. Candidates need to possess exceptional basic nursing skills, a strong desire for on-going learning and an ability to be flexible and adapt to rapid changes including unity assignments. As a float pool team member, the candidates will get experience in both adult critical care units. They will orient and staff both Surgical and Medical ICUs. In the future, to meet the float pool minimum three unit rule, they will choose an additional unit to orient to.

Children's Hospital critical care float pool (C-CCFP)

Our Critical Care Nurse Pathway program offers graduate nurses a unique opportunity within our Children's Hospital to take their skills, knowledge and critical thinking to the next level. A float pool nurse position brings the excitement of being part of a team of versatile and essential resources for our Children's Hospital pediatric, pediatric ICU and neonatal ICU units. Candidates need to possess exceptional basic nursing skills, a strong desire for on-going learning and ability to be flexible and adapt to rapid changes including unit assignments. The candidates will orient and staff birth center, pediatrics and PICU. In the future, they will orient and staff in the neonatal ICU.

Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. 

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to [email protected].