Provides comprehensive professional nursing care to critically ill patients in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Step Down. Patients are recovering from medical conditions and surgical procedures that are characterized by the presence of real or potential life-threatening health problems and require continuous observation and intervention to prevent complications and restore health. Independently plans, schedules, and provides comprehensive nursing care without specific instructions, and solves all but the most acute problems on own initiative. Discusses the needs of the patient, the kind of physical care, and personal relationships, and behavioral patterns to be enforced and those to be avoided. Communicates patient progress or lack of to physicians and supervisory nursing personnel. Accompanies and assists physicians with complex and potentially life-threatening procedures such as the insertion of arterial and venous catheters, chest tubes, and endotracheal tubes. The incumbent will have a working knowledge of cardiac drugs, hemodynamic monitoring, critical thinking skills, and thorough documentation skills.