PCU Registered Nurse
Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Luke's Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - PCU

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Unit: Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• Patient Ratios: Typically 1:4; may flex to 1:6 on rare occasions (travelers expected to take extra patients)
• Weekend Requirement: 8 weekend shifts per 6-week schedule period (Friday/Saturday/Sunday combination)
• Floating: Regular floating within scope may be required between departments, units, and facilities
• Block Schedule: Not accommodated
• Local Candidates: Not accepted (home must be at least 75 miles from facility)
• On-Call: Not required
• Guaranteed Hours: 3 shifts per 13 weeks minimum
• Return to Office Restrictions: No more than 7 days off allowed

Required Experience & Skills

• Specialty: Registered Nurse
• Years of Experience: Minimum 2 years of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience
• Recency: PCU experience within the last year required
• Additional Experience: Strong ventilator experience required
• Work Settings: Medical-Surgical/Telemetry, Telemetry, Cardiac Telemetry
• Cardiac Monitoring: Interpretation and management of dysrhythmias, telemetry monitoring
• First-Time Travelers: Accepted

Clinical Skills & Patient Care Areas

• Cardiac Telemetry: Experience required
• Telemetry: Experience required
• Medications: Heparin protocols, managing cardiac drips (no titration), PCA, titrating cardiac drips
• Neurological/Psychiatric: Care for CVA, traumatic brain injury patients
• Respiratory: Care of ventilated patients, chest tubes (Emerson/Pleur-evac), external CPAP/BIPAP, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), ABG interpretation, nasal cannula, oxygen masks, non-invasive airway management, tracheostomy management
• Professional Skills: Isolation precautions

Patient Diagnoses & Special Procedures

• Pulmonary stepdown, intermediate care
• Ventilated trach patients
• COPD and pulmonary patients requiring Airvo, BiPAP, CPAP, respiratory treatments for high acuity patients
• Endobronchial valves and ventilator management

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support) - American Heart Association only
• NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
• NIH Stroke Certification (NIHSS)
• Other unit-specific certifications may apply (refer to unit descriptions)

License Requirements

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license for Missouri
• Pending licenses not accepted
• Primary source verification required (NURSYS for Missouri)

Compliance & Background Checks

• Criminal background check within 6 months of start (7-year search including statewide and nationwide checks)
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required quarterly
• Fingerprinting required for certain Illinois long-term care or rehab assignments
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include standard panels and be valid throughout assignment
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask testing (N95) required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and health screenings required:

  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • Tdap vaccine or declination
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season

Additional Requirements

• Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)
• Unit-specific skills checklist within 1 year of start
• Competency exams including dysrhythmia/EKG competency within 12 months of start
• Various facility-specific documents and acknowledgements (HIPAA, confidentiality, latex allergy, hand hygiene, dress code, etc.) must be completed prior to start
• Orientation modules required through online platform (approx. 16 hours)
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing required

Requirements / Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Missouri
• Minimum 2 years of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience
• PCU experience within the last year
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing
• Strong ventilator experience

Notes

• Floating between units and departments is expected as needed
• Candidates must be willing to work required weekend shifts
• Home address must be at least 75 miles from the facility to qualify as a traveler
• No on-call duties required
• Strong ventilator and telemetry experience is essential for this role

This position offers an opportunity to work in a tertiary care hospital with a 5-time Magnet recognition and Level 1 Trauma designation. The facility uses Epic for charting and provides free parking.