Progressive Care Unit Registered Nurse
Springfield, IL
GHR Healthcare - PH Division
3x12 hrs

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse (PCU) - Travel/Contract

Location: Springfield, Illinois
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Specialty: Stepdown/Progressive Care Unit (PCU) Registered Nurse
• Shift: 3x12 hour night shifts (option to accommodate 4x12 if preferred)
• Weekend Requirement: Work every other weekend
• Experience Required: Minimum 1 year in specialty (first-time travelers not accepted)
• License: Must have an active Illinois RN license (no pending licenses accepted)
• On-call: Not required
• Floating: May float within scope to meet facility needs
• Locals Accepted: Yes, no radius restrictions
• Return to Office Restrictions: Ideally no more than 5 days

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support) - Required
• NIH Certification - Required
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - Preferred

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Illinois
• Minimum 1 year of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience within the last year
• BLS issued by American Heart Association
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing
• Interpretation and management of dysrhythmias
• Use of Rapid Response Teams
• Post Cardiac Angiogram care
• Pre/Post Cardiac Catheterization care
• Sheath Removal and TR Band management
• Arterial line management
• Central line care/management
• Peripheral line care/management
• Heparin protocols

Required Clinical Experience & Skills

Work Setting Experience

• Telemetry
• Neuro Stepdown
• PCU/DOU/IMC/Stepdown units

Cardiac Monitoring & Emergency Response

• Interpretation and management of dysrhythmias
• Telemetry monitoring on unit
• Use of Rapid Response Teams

Cardiovascular Skills

• Post Cardiac Angiogram care
• Post Myocardial Infarction (MI) care
• Pre/Post Cardiac Catheterization and Surgery
• Sheath Removal and TR Band management

Gastrointestinal

• Feeding tube care and management

Genitourinary/Renal

• Pre/Post Hemodialysis management
• Renal failure care

IV Therapy / Phlebotomy

• Accessing ports
• Arterial line management
• Blood product administration
• Central line and PICC line care/management
• Phlebotomy
• Peripheral line care/management
• Starting IVs

Medication Management

• Heparin protocols
• Manage cardiac and vasoactive drips (no titration)
• PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia)
• Procedural sedation administration
• Titration of cardiac and vasoactive drips

Neurological / Psychiatric

• Craniotomy care
• CVA (stroke) care
• Pre/Post neurosurgery
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury

Orthopedics

• Ortho trauma
• Peripheral nerve block catheters
• Total joint replacements

Plastic Surgery

• Skin grafts
• Surgical drains

Respiratory

• Care of ventilated patients
• Chest tubes (Emerson/Pleur-evac)
• External CPAP/BIPAP
• High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)
• Interpretation of ABGs
• Nasal cannula, oxygen face masks, portable oxygen tanks
• Non-invasive airway management
• Tracheostomy management

Professional Topics & Skills

• Isolation precautions
• Wound care / Wound VAC
• Cerner charting experience preferred
• Teaching hospital experience preferred
• Level I trauma experience preferred

Facility Type

• Acute Care Hospital
• Level I Trauma Center
• Magnet recognized hospital
• Total staffed beds: 562

Additional Requirements

• Must work every other weekend
• May be called off up to 36 hours per 13-week assignment without pay
• Block scheduling may be discussed with manager

Required Documentation & Compliance

• Valid/current US Driver’s License or State ID
• Background checks covering all locations lived/worked in past 7 years
• Education verification (degree or transcript)
• State-specific criminal and offender registry searches (Illinois)
• Primary source verification of certifications and licenses (including NURSYS)
• Competency exam required for clinical candidates
• Badge photo required before start
• Physical exam within 1 year of start, including labs
• Fit mask test required (specific mask types accepted)
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year
• Immunizations or proof of immunity for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella
• 9-panel drug screen within 30 days of start
• Flu vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption required annually
• References: 2 professional references required for clinical candidates
• Skills checklist required for clinical candidates

Prior Travel Experience

• Not accepted for first-time travelers (prior travel experience required)

This position is ideal for experienced PCU RNs with strong telemetry and critical care skills, who hold an active Illinois license and have prior travel contract experience.