Travel Nurse RN - PCU - Progressive Care Unit
Des Moines, IA
BHS Workforce
4x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

Travel RN – Medical-Surgical / Neuro Stepdown

Location: Iowa (Iowa Methodist Medical Center / Iowa Lutheran Hospital)
Shift: Nights, 4x12-hour shifts
Weekly Hours: 48 hours (36-hour schedule may be accommodated)
EMR: Epic
Experience Required: Minimum 2 years
License: Active Iowa RN license or compact/multistate license
 

Position Overview
 

We are seeking an experienced Travel Registered Nurse for a Medical-Surgical, IMCU, Stepdown, or Progressive Care assignment in Iowa. The unit cares for a complex patient population, including patients with neurological and neurosurgical conditions, trauma, and orthopedic needs.

Candidates must have recent experience in a hospital or medical center setting, strong neuro/neurosurgery and orthopedic nursing skills, and the ability to manage patients requiring telemetry and specialized therapies.
 

Unit Details

• Bed Size: 25 beds
• Patient Ratio: 1:5–6
• Patient Population: Neuro trauma, neurosurgery, craniectomy, and orthopedic patients
• EMR: Epic
• Scrubs: Navy blue
• Drips/Therapies: Heparin, PCA, and 3% sodium chloride; titration not required
• Equipment: Telemetry, specialty equipment, chest tubes, and Airvo
• Floating: Required across all campuses, including Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Iowa Lutheran Hospital

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 24 months of Medical-Surgical, IMCU, Stepdown, or Progressive Care experience in a hospital or medical center.
• Neuro/neurosurgery patient-care experience.
• Orthopedic patient-care experience.
• Epic experience.
• Experience with heparin, PCA, and 3% sodium chloride.
• EKG interpretation and telemetry monitoring experience.
• At least one completed travel assignment within the previous 12 months; first-time travelers are not accepted.
• Active Iowa RN license or compact/multistate license at submission.

Required Certifications

• AHA or American Red Cross BLS
• AHA or American Red Cross ACLS

Preferred:

• NIHSS (may be obtained during onboarding)
• CPI, MOAB, MAB, or SAMA de-escalation certification
• Trauma Level I experience
• Trauma nursing experience
• Familiarity with telemetry, specialty equipment, chest tubes, and Airvo

Schedule & Assignment Expectations

• Night shift, 4x12-hour shifts
• 48 hours per week; 36 hours may be accommodated
• Holiday rotation required: work 1–2 of the 3 upcoming winter holidays unless the unit is closed
• Weekend rotation: every other weekend or every third weekend, depending on staffing and census
• Floating across campuses is required
• Listed orientation dates: December 7 and December 21

Submission Requirements

• Current resume/work history showing at least 24 months of qualifying experience
• Discipline-specific skills checklist
• Active Iowa or compact/multistate RN license verified through Nursys at submission
• Driver's license
• BLS and ACLS certifications
• Professional reference from a charge nurse, supervisor, nurse manager, director, CNO, or COO within the last 24 months is preferred

Important Eligibility Restrictions

• No local candidates: Must live at least 50 miles from the facility, based on the driver's license address.
• Previous UPH employees who worked as FTEs or PRN in the UPH float pool within the past 12 months are not eligible for travel assignments in another market, regardless of facility.
• Previous UPH travel staff are exempt from this separation restriction.