Progressive Care Unit RN
Great Falls, MT
ND Global Consulting Services
3x12 hrs, Days

Registered Nurse (RN) – Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Step-Down

Location: Montana
Shift: Night Shift

Position Summary

The Progressive Care Unit (PCU)/Step-Down RN provides comprehensive nursing care to hemodynamically stable or predictably unstable patients who require close monitoring but do not need ICU-level care.

The RN cares for patients with complex medical, surgical, and cardiovascular conditions, collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and supports patients throughout their hospital stay, from admission through discharge. The nurse may also assist the Medical-Surgical Unit when staffing needs arise.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care, including assessment, monitoring, treatment, and discharge planning.
• Care for postoperative surgical patients who require intensive monitoring.
• Monitor patients receiving pre- and post-PCI care, pacemaker placement, revascularization, carotid endarterectomy, and thoracotomy.
• Care for patients with CHF, COPD, DKA, renal failure, DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), sepsis, and other complex medical and surgical conditions.
• Recognize changes in patient conditions and initiate appropriate nursing interventions.
• Operate advanced medical equipment, including multiple IV pumps, arterial lines, invasive monitoring lines, central lines, chest tubes, and nasogastric tubes.
• Provide care to patients requiring continuous bladder irrigation, stable ventilatory support, CPAP, and BiPAP.
• Perform basic cardiac telemetry monitoring and EKG interpretation.
• Manage common IV medications, including:
  • Heparin
  • Diltiazem
  • Dobutamine (non-titrated)
  • Lasix or Bumex
  • Amiodarone
  • Dopamine (non-titrated)
• Collaborate with providers and other healthcare professionals to achieve positive patient outcomes.
• Provide physical, emotional, spiritual, and culturally appropriate patient support.
• Follow established nursing policies and procedures with minimal supervision.
• Assist with staff training and precepting as needed.
• Provide clinical direction to RNs, LPNs, CNAs, housekeeping staff, and dietary staff, as applicable.
• Support the Medical-Surgical Unit when staffing needs require.

Required Qualifications

Licensure & Certifications

• Current Montana RN license required.
• BLS certification required.
• ACLS certification required.
• PALS certification required or must be obtained within six months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• EPNC certification preferred but not required.
• TNCC certification preferred but not required.
• Pediatric nursing experience preferred but not required.
• Experience caring for post-cardiac catheterization patients preferred.
• Experience caring for postoperative vascular surgery patients preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of advanced nursing principles and procedures.
• Ability to operate advanced medical equipment and manage multiple IV pumps.
• Experience with invasive lines, arterial lines, chest tubes, and ventilatory support.
• Proficiency in basic cardiac telemetry monitoring and EKG interpretation.
• Ability to manage common IV medications and provide care to patients requiring close monitoring.
• Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Receives direction from: Providers, Charge Nurse, and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).
• Provides direction to: RNs, LPNs, CNAs, housekeeping staff, and dietary staff, as applicable.
• Works collaboratively with: Providers and other healthcare professionals to ensure safe, effective patient care.