RN Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit
Asheville, North Carolina
Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

Registered Nurse - Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Overview

• Unit: Cardiovascular Progressive Care (CVPC)
• Patient Population:

  • Cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery patients, including open heart surgeries (CABG, AVR, MVR, Bentall, TAVR)
  • Thoracic lung surgeries (lobectomy, thoracotomy)
  • Esophagogastrectomy, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs (open and endovascular)
  • Femoral-popliteal bypass, carotid endarterectomies
  • Overflow medical cardiology patients with diagnoses such as heart failure, DKA, chest pain, sepsis, heart block
• Beds: 40 cardiac surgery stepdown beds
• Staffing: Approximately 100 total staff
• Patient Ratios:

  • RN: 1:5 patients
  • Patient Care Technicians (PCT): 1:13 patients
• Equipment: Baxter IV pumps, CADD epidural pumps, various lifts
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR): Cerner

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• Cardiac PCU experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Stepdown unit experience
• Telemetry experience

Typical Procedures Performed

• Epidural management
• Chest tube management
• Tube feedings
• IV gluccomander use
• Management of cardiac drips including phenylephrine, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, cardizem, amiodarone, insulin, heparin, nitroglycerin, ketamine

Certifications and Licenses

• Registered Nurse (RN) license required
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certification required
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification required
• NIH Stroke Scale certification required

Work Environment and Schedule

• Floating Areas: Any stepdown (SD) or medical-surgical (MS) units, ER inpatient holding area
• Patient Ratios in Floating Areas:

  • Stepdown: 1:5
  • Medical-Surgical: 1:6-7
  • ER inpatient holding: 1:6
• Dress Code: Navy scrubs, white tops with navy bottoms, or all white
• Weekend Requirement: Minimum 6 weekend shifts (day or night) per 6-week schedule
• On Call: None
• Personality Fit: Team player, enjoys fast-paced environment, flexible

This position offers the opportunity to work in a high-acuity cardiovascular progressive care unit with a diverse patient population and advanced clinical practices.