Travel ICU Nurse Jobs Ohio 2026

Cleveland Clinic — Cleveland (Level I Trauma)

Ranked #1 US Heart Hospital for 28 consecutive years by US News. The Miller Family Heart & Vascular Center runs the largest single CVICU program in Ohio and one of the highest-acuity cardiovascular critical care environments in the world.

• CVICU — Heart and lung transplant, LVAD (HeartMate 3), ECMO (VA & VV), TAVR, IABP, Impella management
• MICU — Medical critical care, sepsis, respiratory failure, complex medicine
• SICU — Surgical ICU, trauma, thoracic, organ donation management
• Neuro ICU — Stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, TBI, post-craniotomy

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (Level I Trauma)

Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute CVICU, Level I trauma SICU, MICU, neurological ICU, and one of Ohio's largest burn ICUs. Multiple ICU specialty types with consistent travel RN demand across the Cleveland system.

• CVICU — Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, cardiac surgery, structural heart
• SICU and MICU — Level I trauma and medical critical care
• Neurological ICU — stroke, SAH, TBI, post-craniotomy care
• Burn ICU — one of the largest burn centers in Ohio

Ohio State Wexner Medical Center — Columbus (Level I Trauma)

Ross Heart Hospital CVICU and CTICU (cardiac transplant + ECMO) are among the most sought-after ICU travel assignments in central Ohio. Also home to MICU, trauma SICU, neurological ICU (stroke, SAH, TBI), and the James Cancer oncology ICU.

• Ross Heart CTICU — cardiac transplant post-operative, ECMO, LVAD bridge-to-transplant
• CVICU — cardiac surgery, TAVR, structural heart disease
• MICU and trauma SICU — Level I trauma, surgical critical care
• Neurological ICU — high-volume stroke, SAH, TBI, neurosurgical post-operative
• James Cancer ICU — oncology critical care for hematology-oncology and BMT patients

UC Health — University of Cincinnati Medical Center (Level I Trauma)

Southwest Ohio's premier academic medical center. UC Health Burn Center is one of Ohio's major burn ICUs. Mayfield Brain & Spine partnership drives neurological ICU volume. CVICU, trauma SICU, MICU, and burn ICU all carry travel RN contracts.

• Burn ICU — UC Health Burn Center; escharotomy, fluid resuscitation, inhalation injury ventilator management
• CVICU — cardiac surgery, structural heart, advanced heart failure
• Trauma SICU — Level I trauma, penetrating and blunt trauma volume
• Neurological ICU — Mayfield Brain & Spine partnership; SAH, TBI, stroke

MetroHealth Medical Center — Cleveland (Level I Trauma)

Safety-net Level I trauma center serving Cuyahoga County's underserved populations. High-volume trauma ICU, burn ICU, and MICU. Consistent travel ICU RN demand at competitive rates for safety-net Level I settings.

• Trauma SICU — safety-net Level I with high penetrating and blunt trauma volume
• MICU — complex medical critical care, sepsis, respiratory failure
• Burn ICU — MetroHealth Burn Center; specialized burn nursing

ProMedica Toledo Hospital — Toledo (Level I Trauma)

Northwest Ohio's Level I trauma center and regional referral hub. CVICU, MICU, and Level I trauma SICU contracts. Serves a large rural northwest Ohio catchment area with consistent ICU travel demand.

• CVICU — cardiac surgery, advanced heart failure, structural heart disease
• MICU — medical critical care for northwest Ohio regional referrals
• Level I trauma SICU — trauma for northwest Ohio and Michigan border region

How much do travel ICU nurses make in Ohio?

Travel ICU nurses in Ohio earn $2,300–$3,300/week depending on unit type, facility, and certifications. UC Health Burn ICU in Cincinnati pays $2,700–$3,300/week for burn-certified or burn-experienced ICU nurses. Cleveland Clinic CVICU pays $2,500–$3,200/week, with ECMO certification adding $250–$400/week on top. Ohio State CTICU / Ross Heart Hospital pays $2,500–$3,100/week for cardiac transplant and ECMO-experienced nurses. University Hospitals CVICU and general ICU contracts pay $2,400–$3,000/week. MetroHealth and ProMedica Level I trauma ICU contracts pay $2,300–$2,900/week. Rural Appalachian Ohio (Zanesville, Chillicothe) pays $2,300–$2,800/week with a geographic shortage premium. CCRN certification adds $250–$400/week across most Ohio ICU systems.

Is Ohio an NLC Compact state?

Yes — Ohio is a full NLC (Nursing Licensure Compact) member. Travel ICU nurses with compact home state licenses can practice in Ohio via eNLC multistate privilege without obtaining a separate Ohio RN license. Verify your eNLC multistate privilege at nursys.com before your start date. Nurses whose home state is not compact must obtain Ohio RN endorsement through the Ohio Board of Nursing, which typically takes 6–10 weeks. The NLC compact status makes Ohio ideal for multi-city rotation across Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati systems without relicensing.

What experience is needed for Cleveland Clinic CVICU travel contracts?

Cleveland Clinic CVICU requires a minimum of 2 years of cardiovascular ICU experience — CVICU, CICU, or CTICU background. CCRN (Adult Critical Care RN from AACN) is strongly preferred and adds $250–$400/week. ECMO Specialist certification opens ECMO circuit management responsibilities and adds another $250–$400/week. CSC (Cardiac Surgery Certified) from AACN is valued for the cardiac surgery and transplant patient population. Experience with LVAD management (HeartMate 3 preferred), IABP, Impella, and TAVR hemodynamic monitoring strengthens your candidacy. ACLS and BLS are mandatory. Cleveland Clinic CVICU is one of the most prestigious travel ICU assignments in the country and fills quickly — submitting your profile early with a recruiter who has direct Cleveland Clinic relationships is essential.

What is the Ohio Appalachian ICU shortage?

Southeast Ohio’s Appalachian region has a significant critical care nursing shortage that creates consistent travel ICU demand with geographic premium pay. OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center (Zanesville), Adena Regional Medical Center (Chillicothe), and Genesis Healthcare System (Zanesville) are the primary facilities. These hospitals serve large rural catchment areas with populations that face higher rates of chronic illness, trauma, and limited access to advanced care — driving ICU census. Travel ICU nurses at Appalachian Ohio facilities earn $2,300–$2,800/week, with OhioHealth system contracts often extending to 26 weeks. The shortage is year-round, not seasonal, making rural Ohio a stable travel market.

What ICU certifications add pay in Ohio?

CCRN (Adult Critical Care RN from AACN) adds $250–$400/week at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State Wexner, UC Health, and University Hospitals contracts. ECMO Specialist certification opens Cleveland Clinic CVICU and Ohio State CTICU ECMO positions, adding $250–$400/week above standard CVICU rates. CSC (Cardiac Surgery Certified) from AACN is valued for CTICU and CVICU assignments at Ohio State Ross Heart and Cleveland Clinic, adding $150–$250/week. Burn ICU experience (not a formal certification, but documented burn ICU hours) is required for UC Health Burn ICU contracts at premium rates. ACLS and BLS are mandatory across all Ohio ICU travel contracts without exception.