Progressive Care Unit (Stepdown) RN
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs

Job Opportunity: PCU RN (Stepdown Unit)

Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Details

• Unit Type: Stepdown / Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• Number of Beds: 22
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:4
• Patient Types: Heart failure, Atrial fibrillation (Afib), respiratory distress, stroke
• Common Drips Titrated by RN: Cardizem, amiodarone, nitroglycerin
• Charge Nurse: Yes, takes a full patient assignment
• Patient Care Techs: Yes, ratio 1:10
• Respiratory Therapy Equipment: CPAP (RNs troubleshoot only)
• Telemetry: RNs must read and interpret cardiac strips
• Orientation: 1 twelve-hour shift on the unit
• Scheduling: Cyclic scheduling with shifts 0630-1900 and 1830-0700
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Holiday Requirement: 1 major and 1 minor holiday
• Floating: May float to ICU if appropriate and experienced
• Work Environment: Fast paced with many admissions and discharges
• Desired Nurse Attributes: Positive attitude, teamwork, patient-oriented, dedicated to care

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Registered Nurse (RN) license required
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)

Required Qualifications

• Specialty Experience: PCU / Stepdown nursing experience (minimum 3 years recommended based on specialty complexity and unit requirements)
• Must pass a skills exam during orientation with a minimum score of 90% (open book, resources provided)
• Must comply with facility policies including:

  • No artificial nails in patient care areas
  • Valid driver’s license required at submission
  • Radius rule: Candidate must live within 50 miles and not be currently employed full-time, part-time, or PRN with any CommonSpirit-associated facility

Additional Notes

• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required
• Orientation time off (RTO) needed upfront; no additional RTO will be approved after submission
• Nurses will be expected to titrate drips and interpret telemetry independently
• Floating to ICU may be required based on experience

This position is ideal for experienced PCU RNs who thrive in a fast-paced environment and are comfortable managing complex cardiac and respiratory patients.