Cardiac Progressive Care Unit RN
Rapid City, SD
Olaro
3x12 hrs, Days

Healthcare Job Opportunity: PCU RN - Rapid City, South Dakota

Unit & Facility Overview

• Unit Type: Mixed acuity Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• Beds: 44
• Patient Types:

  • Intermediate Care acuity, Telemetry, and MedSurg patients
  • Direct admits, ED admits, Post Cath Lab
  • Cardiac cases including MI, NSTEMI, STEMI (IABP patients go to ICU)
  • CHF, Dysrhythmia management, Pacemaker malfunction, Epicardial pacers
  • Backup Stroke unit and Medical Overflow
  • Step down level care for post cardiac/vascular, post-cardiac cath, post open heart surgery, post TAVR, post EP studies, post pacemaker insertion

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum Experience: 1.5 years general nursing experience
• First-time Travelers: Accepted only with 2+ years experience
• Required Certifications:

  • BLS
  • ACLS
  • NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• Required Education:

  • Completion of an approved nursing education program
  • Registered Nurse (RN) license from South Dakota Board of Nursing

Skills & Clinical Requirements

• PCU level RN experience required
• Experience with cardiac procedural recovery (CABG, TAVR, post cardiac cath)
• Knowledge of MI pharmacology and titratable cardiac/vasoactive drips (Cardizem, Amiodarone, Nitro, Levo, Dopamine) — manager approval required if not experienced
• Heparin drips, cardiac rhythm interpretation, chest tube management
• TNK administration preferred

Patient Ratios & Support

• RN to patient ratio: typically 1:4, can be 1:3 depending on acuity
• Support staff includes:

  • CNA (ratio 1:5-8 depending on shift)
  • Charge nurse (unassigned)
  • Phlebotomy (peripheral blood draws)
  • Resource nurse (occasional)
  • Telemetry tech oversees cardiac monitoring; RN confirms strips twice daily
  • Respiratory Therapist available 24/7
  • Hospitalist on-site 24/7 (not dedicated to unit)

Technology & Equipment

• Charting system: Epic (notify if no Epic experience for approval)
• Equipment: Alaris pumps, Omnicell medication system

Floating & Orientation

• Floating primarily to sister General PCU unit as needed
• May float to MedSurg/Telemetry or ICU for PCU level patients within scope of practice
• Orientation includes 2 partial education days plus 3 twelve-hour shifts on unit

Scheduling & Work Conditions

• Contract length: 13 weeks
• Weekend rotation: every other weekend
• No on-call duties
• Holiday work: every other holiday
• Time off: up to 7 days approved; no time off first 3 weeks of August (Sturgis Bike Rally)
• Scrub color: Navy Blue
• Free parking available

Additional Requirements & Documentation

• Flu documentation for 2025-26 season
• Annual core competencies
• COVID vaccination requirement
• Background check, drug screen, license and education verification
• Immunizations and titers (Hep B, MMR, Varicella, TDAP)
• CPR certification (BLS)
• Physical exam and TB testing
• Skills checklist and unit competency verification

This position is ideal for experienced PCU RNs with cardiac care skills looking for a mixed acuity progressive care environment in Rapid City, SD.