Travel Nurse RN - PCU - Progressive Care Unit
Tacoma, WA
Wellspring Nurse Source
3x12 hrs, Nights

Unit Information

This Float Pool position encompasses a range of areas within the hospital, including Progressive Care Unit (PCU), Telemetry, Medical/Surgical units, and Emergency Department Holding. The position may also require floating to a nearby facility as needed.

Experience Requirements

A minimum of 1 year of nursing experience is required. First-time travelers are welcome with strong experience in PCU/Telemetry and previous float pool experience preferred.

Patient Types and Common Diagnoses

The predominant area of focus will be the Emergency Department Holding. However, the nurse will also float to inpatient PCU as necessary. Common patient diagnoses include:

• Neuro and Trauma Cases
• Surgical and Medical Conditions
• Respiratory Compromise, Sepsis, and Renal Failure
• CHF, COPD, Pneumonia, and Ortho Cases
• Cardiac Conditions (e.g., STEMIs, post CABG/TAVRs)

Patient Ratios

• PCU: 1:4
• MedSurg: 1:5-6

Licenses and Certifications

Required certifications include:

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)

Essential Skills

Candidates must have proficiency in:

• IV Medication Titration
• Cardiac Rhythm Interpretation
• Bipap Management
• Ostomy and General Drain Care
• Tracheostomy and Chest Tube Management
• Experience with TR Bands (preferred)
• Experience with EPIC EMR

Departmental Support

The Float Pool is well supported with:

• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
• Charge Registered Nurse without patient assignment
• Hospitalists available 24/7
• Respiratory Therapists (RT) available 24/7
• Cardiac and Specialty Physicians on call 24/7

Orientation

Orientation consists of:

• 1-day general hospital orientation
• 1-day of unit orientation (12 hours) on the PCU unit
• Traveler Telemetry Competency Required

Scheduling

Key scheduling details include:

• Weekend rotation: every other weekend, with rare back-to-back weekends
• Holidays: Specific holiday shifts will be assigned
• Requests for Time Off (RTO) are permissible, up to 5 days
• Shift times: 0700-1930 or 1900-0730
• Schedules are generated in 3-week increments and provided 7-10 days before the start
• No self-scheduling or guaranteed patterned schedules

Additional Information

Professional attire is required, consisting of any solid color scrubs. Free parking is available. Nurses are expected to fill out whiteboards, conduct hourly rounding, and provide bedside report. Medications must not be left unattended, and a two-nurse verification is required for wasting certain medications. It is mandatory to document pain levels before and after administering pain medication.