Travel Nurse RN - Stepdown
Lexington, KY
First Connect Health
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

PCU RN – Progressive Care Unit

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated PCU RN to join the 4IC Progressive Care Unit. The ideal candidate should be comfortable caring for higher-acuity patients, managing post-cath patients, interpreting telemetry, and titrating IV medications. Experience with TAVR patients is preferred.

Unit & Patient Population

• Unit: 4IC Progressive Care Unit
• Number of Beds: 32
• Charting System: EPIC
• Typical Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:4–6, depending on patient acuity
• Common Patient Population:
  • Post-cardiac catheterization patients
  • Patients requiring sheath and TR band management
  • TAVR patients
  • Medical patients requiring telemetry monitoring
  • 3E overflow patients, including patients with chest tubes

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to PCU and cardiac patients.
• Manage post-catheterization patients, including sheaths and TR bands.
• Care for patients with chest tubes and other higher-acuity needs.
• Perform ongoing cardiac and telemetry monitoring.
• Assess and respond appropriately to changes in cardiac rhythms.
• Titrate IV drips according to patient needs and provider orders.
• Safely manage CPAP, BiPAP, and high-flow oxygen patients in collaboration with Respiratory Therapy.
• Read telemetry strips at least once per shift and whenever there is a change in rhythm.
• Collaborate with physicians, respiratory therapists, care technicians, and other members of the healthcare team.

Drips & Critical Care Skills

• RNs are required to titrate drips.
• RNs may manage all titratable/set-rate drips except:
  • Pressors
  • Paralytics
  • TPA

Respiratory Support

The unit manages patients requiring:

• CPAP
• BiPAP
• High-flow oxygen

Respiratory Therapy is available in-house to provide support. RNs may place patients on and off respiratory support, while RT manages and sets the required rates.

Telemetry

• Centralized telemetry monitoring is available.
• RNs are responsible for independently reading telemetry strips:
  • At least once per shift
  • Whenever there is a change in cardiac rhythm

Staffing & Support

• Charge Nurse available on every shift
• Charge Nurse generally takes a patient assignment
• Care Technicians available at approximately 1:15
• Respiratory Therapy available in-house
• Centralized telemetry monitoring

Required Certification

• BLS required
• TAVR experience preferred

Schedule

• Self-scheduling available, subject to unit needs and maintaining balanced staffing
• Weekend Requirement: 6 weekend shifts per 6-week schedule
• Holiday Requirement: 2 summer holidays and 3 winter holidays
• Call/Standby: None

Floating

• Floating is required as needed.
• Travelers may be asked to float to other inpatient floors based on staffing needs.

Orientation

• 1–2 shifts of unit/department-specific orientation

Dress Code

• Galaxy Blue scrubs

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a confident PCU nurse with strong cardiac and telemetry skills, experience caring for post-cath patients, and the ability to manage higher-acuity medical and cardiac populations. Candidates who are comfortable with drip titration, chest tubes, TR bands, and non-invasive respiratory support will be well suited for this assignment.

Akshay #1184131