Progressive Care Unit Registered Nurse
Des Moines, IA
American Traveler
4x12 hrs, Nights

Assignment Overview

• Shift: Nights, 4x12hrs
• Hours: 48 hrs/wk
• Start Date: Jul 20, 2026
• Length: 13 weeks
• Openings: 1

Description

American Traveler is seeking an experienced travel RN for a Progressive Care Unit (PCU) position in Des Moines, IA, requiring neurology/neurosurgery and Epic EMR experience with no first-time travelers accepted.

Details

• 25-bed Progressive Care Unit (PCU) in a hospital setting with floating required across all campuses (Iowa Methodist MC, Iowa Lutheran, and Iowa Methodist West)
• Patient population includes heavy neuro trauma, neurosurgery, craniectomy, and orthopedic cases
• RN-to-patient ratio of 1:5–6
• Drip experience utilized: Heparin, PCA, and 3% Sodium (no titration)
• Specialty equipment in use includes telemetry, chest tubes, left ventricular assist devices, and Airvo
• EMR: Epic (experience required)
• Night shift, 4x12-hour shifts per week (36-hour schedules may be accommodated upon request)
• Every 3rd weekend required
• No on-call requirements
• Holiday rotation required — must work 1–2 of 3 upcoming summer holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day)
• 13-week contract based in Des Moines, IA

Requirements

• Active Iowa RN license or compact/multistate RN license required at time of consideration
• Current AHA or ARC BLS and ACLS certifications required (must be active, no pending certifications accepted)
• NIHSS certification preferred (may be obtained during onboarding)
• De-escalation certificate preferred (CPI, MOAB, MAB, or SAMA accepted)
• Minimum 24 months of recent Medical-Surgical, IMCU, Stepdown, or Progressive Care experience in a hospital or medical center setting required
• Neurology/neurosurgery care experience required
• Orthopedic care experience required
• Trauma care experience highly preferred; Level I trauma experience highly preferred
• Epic EMR experience required
• EKG/strip reading, telemetry monitoring, and telemetry equipment experience required
• Drip experience with Heparin, PCA, and 3% Sodium required
• Experience with telemetry, chest tubes, left ventricular assist devices, and Airvo highly preferred
• Must have completed at least one travel assignment within the previous 12 months (first-time travelers not accepted)
• Driver's license required for consideration
• Supervisory performance evaluation or professional reference from within the past 24 months preferred

Additional Information

• Candidates must wear navy blue scrubs
• Candidates who were employed by the client health system as an FTE or PRN (including float pool) within the past 12 months are not eligible, regardless of which facility they worked at — this does not apply to those who previously worked travel assignments at this system
• Candidates residing within 50 miles of the facility may be subject to a local traveler pay rate adjustment
• Skills checklist must be specific to Medical-Surgical, IMCU, Stepdown, or Progressive Care disciplines