Travel Nurse RN - PCU - Progressive Care Unit
Wilmington, NC
Binding Minds
3x12 hrs, Nights

Registered Nurse – Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Location: Wilmington, NC 28401
Start Date: 01/12/2026
Contract Length: 13–26 Weeks
Shift: Nights – 36 hours/week
Scrub Color: Navy

Float Requirement: Yes – follows unit rotation (not first to float)

Job Summary

The PCU RN will provide advanced cardiac and step-down level care for adult and geriatric patients in a high-acuity progressive care environment. This unit specializes in post-cardiac surgery, cardiac medical management, thoracic cases, post-cath patients, and vascular surgeries. The RN must be highly competent in cardiac monitoring, dysrhythmia interpretation, and managing cardiac drips.

Unit Overview

• Bed Count: 44
• Rooms: 43
• Daily Census: 41
• Patient Population: Adults & geriatrics
• Specialty: Post-cardiac surgery & cardiac intermediate care
• Key Unit Systems: Epic (charting), Pyxis, SBAR communication
• Orientation: 24 hours
• Scheduling Type: Variable (ratios vary per acuity)

Typical Ratios

• Surgical Step-Down: 1:4
• Lower Acuity: 1:5–6

Required Qualifications & Experience

Experience

• Minimum 2 years recent cardiac experience required
• Will consider 1.5+ years CVICU experience at a large facility
• Not accepting first-time travelers unless the RN has 24+ months of cardiac experience

Licenses

• Active RN license (state-specific requirement will apply per facility/VMS)

Certifications (Required)

• BLS (AHA)
• ACLS (AHA)
• NIHSS (preferred, but strongly recommended)

Required Clinical Skills

• Interpretation & management of dysrhythmias
• Management of cardiac drips (titrating & non-titrating)
• Chest tube management (Emerson/PleurEvac)
• Non-invasive airway support (CPAP/BiPAP)
• Nasal cannula, oxygen modalities
• Cardiac monitoring
• Pre/Post cardiac cath
• Post-MI care
• Sheath removal
• Starting/maintaining IVs
• Peripheral & central line management

Preferred Skills

• Arterial line management
• Wound care / Wound vac
• Charge nurse experience