JR
James Rodriguez
RN, BSN, CCRN
Senior ICU Nurse · Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
Rochester, Minnesota, USA 🇺🇸  ·  Active today
Open to Opportunities CCRN Certified GCCNurseJobs.com Verified Travel Ready
87,400
Connections
12 yrs
Experience
4.9 ★
Avg Rating
94
Profile Score
3
Endorsements
48
Recruiter Views
Overview Experience Education Certifications Video Profile Reviews (14) Resume

About James

I'm a CCRN-certified ICU nurse with 12 years of experience in medical-surgical ICU and cardiac critical care at Mayo Clinic — consistently ranked the #1 hospital in the United States. My clinical focus includes management of complex multi-organ failure, ECMO support, post-cardiac surgery care, and advanced ventilator management.

Beyond bedside nursing, I'm a passionate educator and charge nurse who has precepted over 40 new ICU nurses during my career. I hold my CCRN certification (renewed 2024) and am ECMO-trained through the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. I serve on Mayo's ICU shared governance council, focusing on sepsis bundle compliance and nurse retention.

On LinkedIn and social media, I share real stories from the ICU to humanize critical care nursing for the public and provide mentorship to student and new-grad nurses. I'm fluent in English and Spanish and actively open to senior ICU or ICU leadership positions at top academic medical centers — especially those offering visa sponsorship for international hire-based expansion.

Core Skills & Competencies

Mechanical Ventilation ECMO Management Hemodynamic Monitoring Vasopressor Management Sepsis Bundles Post-Cardiac Surgery Care Arterial Line / Central Line CRRT / Dialysis Rapid Response Code Blue Leadership Patient Family Education Charge Nurse Precepting / Mentoring ACLS · BLS · PALS Epic EHR Cerner

Video Profile

James Rodriguez — ICU RN Introduction

1 min 02 sec · Recorded March 2025 · HD 1080p

✓ Clear Audio ✓ Well Lit ✓ Professional Attire ✓ GCCNurseJobs.com Quality Verified

Work Experience

Senior ICU Registered Nurse — Medical-Surgical ICU
Mayo Clinic · Full-Time
Jan 2018 – Present · 7 yrs  ·  Rochester, MN, USA
Provide comprehensive critical care to complex multi-organ failure patients in a 32-bed MSICU. Serve as rotating charge nurse. ECMO specialist for VA-ECMO and VV-ECMO patients. Preceptor for 14 new ICU nurses since 2019. Lead on unit-level sepsis bundle compliance initiative that improved 3-hour bundle adherence from 72% to 94%.
ECMOCharge RNSepsisCRRT
ICU Registered Nurse — Cardiac ICU
Cleveland Clinic · Full-Time
Aug 2015 – Dec 2017 · 2 yrs 5 mo  ·  Cleveland, OH, USA
Cared for post-cardiac surgery patients including CABG, valve repair, and heart transplant recipients in a 24-bed CICU. Managed patients on multiple vasoactive drips, intra-aortic balloon pump, and Impella devices. Participated in Cleveland Clinic's nurse residency mentor program.
Cardiac Surgery ICUIABPImpellaHeart Transplant
Registered Nurse — General ICU
Methodist Hospital · Full-Time
Jun 2013 – Jul 2015 · 2 yrs 2 mo  ·  San Antonio, TX, USA
First ICU position after completing nurse residency. Cared for medical, surgical, and trauma ICU patients. Developed foundational critical care skills including ventilator management, invasive monitoring, and emergency response.
General ICUTraumaNurse Residency

Education

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) — Critical Care Focus
University of Texas Health Science Center
2016 – 2018 · Graduated with Distinction · GPA 3.93
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
University of Texas at San Antonio
2009 – 2013 · Dean's List · Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society

Licenses & Certifications

CCRN – Critical Care RN
AACN · American Assoc. of Critical-Care Nurses
✓ Valid through Dec 2026
RN License — Minnesota
Minnesota Board of Nursing
✓ Active · License #MN-2241879
ECMO Specialist Certification
Extracorporeal Life Support Org. (ELSO)
✓ Valid through Mar 2026
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
American Heart Association
✓ Valid through Jan 2026
Basic Life Support (BLS)
American Heart Association
✓ Valid through Jan 2026
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
American Heart Association
✓ Valid through Jan 2026

Employer Reviews (14 reviews · 4.9★ avg)

SC
Susan Collins, CNO
Mayo Clinic · ICU Director
★★★★★
February 2025

"James is one of the most skilled and compassionate ICU nurses I have ever had the privilege to work with. His ECMO expertise is exceptional — he has been instrumental in developing our unit's ECMO protocol. Beyond the technical skills, his bedside manner with families during the most difficult moments is truly extraordinary."

DR
Dr. Robert Kim, MD
Mayo Clinic · Intensivist / Critical Care Physician
★★★★★
November 2024

"I've worked alongside James for five years in our MSICU and I can say without hesitation he is the nurse every intensivist wants on their team. His clinical assessment is razor sharp — he's caught subtle deteriorations before our monitoring alarms. He anticipates needs, communicates crisply, and is absolutely unflappable in crisis situations."

AL
Angela Li, RN
Mayo Clinic · ICU Staff Nurse (James's preceptee)
★★★★★
August 2024

"James was my preceptor and I honestly would not be the nurse I am today without him. He never made me feel stupid for asking questions and always explained the 'why' behind everything. He has a gift for teaching while managing two of the sickest patients on the floor. I aspire to be half the nurse he is."