PCU RN
Seattle, Washington
Virginia Mason Medical Center and Seattle Medical Center

Tele/PCU Float Pool RN

Location: Seattle, Washington Contract Length: 13 weeks Shift: Nights, 12-hour shifts Hours: 48 hours per week (manager also open to 36-hour weeks)

Required Qualifications

• ACLS and BLS certification
• WA or Compact license
• Must have prior floating experience (float pool shifts, other facilities, and/or floating to other floors or units)
• Must have med-surg experience and PCU/stepdown level experience

Float Pool Scope

• Observation, Med-Surg, General Surgery, Ortho Surgery, Short Stay Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Telemetry, and Progressive Care

Patient Care

• Nurse-to-patient ratios: 4-5 patients per RN on med-surg; 3 patients per RN on progressive care
• Common diagnoses: Post-op surgical patients, PCU patients (strokes, lines, drains, chest tubes, CHF, post-vascular procedures, arrhythmias, DKA)
• Drips: RNs are sometimes but not usually required to titrate drips on med-surg. Titratable drips include heparin, nicardipine, NTG, insulin, and Cardizem. Fixed-rate drips include dopamine and dobutamine (stepdown).
• Respiratory equipment: CPAP and BiPap sometimes
• Monitoring: Remote cardiac monitoring; RNs read strips (no monitor techs)
• Nursing aides: 10 patients to 1 aide, housewide

Role and Scheduling

• Will not act as house supervisor or charge nurse; charge nurse does not always take an assignment
• Self-scheduling allowed; no block scheduling
• Every other weekend; holidays depend on staffing
• No call or standby requirement
• Units assigned via daily staffing sheets
• Weekend requirements are based on unit needs and demands

Logistics

• Scrub color: Royal Blue
• Parking is not reimbursed; daily and monthly garage options are available, and parking must be paid until 7pm
• Clinical profile review is required, and the manager will call for the interview

Orientation

• Weekly general hospital orientation dates
• If the orientation falls on an off week, the RN starts at an alternate site and moves to the unit the following week
• Facility modules, a validation class, and on-unit orientation