Progressive Care Unit RN
Bangor, Maine
Eastern Maine Medical Center

Registered Nurse – PCU (Intermediate Care Unit)

Location: Bangor, Maine
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: 7 PM – 7 AM (12-hour night shifts)
Hours per Week: 48

Unit & Patient Population

• Intermediate Care Unit (PCU) with 12 beds
• Level II Trauma Center environment
• Patient types include:

  • Trauma (Level 2 trauma patients)
  • Neurology (strokes, stable craniotomies, CIWA, seizure precautions)
  • Medical/Surgical (respiratory illnesses including COVID/Flu/Pneumonia, long-term trachs with vents, respiratory failure requiring Bipap or high flow O2, COPD exacerbations, post-op general surgery, sepsis, IV drug abuse complications, thyroid storm)
  • Cardiac (STEMI, NSTEMI, CHF, AFIB with RVR, post cardiac cath, post ablation, 24-hour post-op TAVR)

Patient Ratios

• RN: 1:3-4 (days and nights)
• Tech: 1:6-12 (days and nights, depending on staffing)

Required Experience

• Minimum 1 year of Intermediate/PCU level care experience
• If only Medical/Surgical experience with some PCU, minimum 2 years required
• Prior travel experience required: must have completed at least two 13-week travel assignments

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• AACN certification (preferred)
• CCRN certification (preferred)

Clinical Skills & Competencies

• Trauma experience including care of stroke patients and performing neuro checks every 2 hours
• Medical/Surgical skills:

  • High flow oxygen therapy
  • Chest tube management
  • Wound VAC/VAC dressing changes
  • Bipap management
  • General drain and ostomy care
  • IV starts
  • Care of trached patients on vents, including administering 100% FiO2 via suction support and silencing alarms (RT provides education)
• Cardiac skills:

  • Management of temporary pacemakers
  • TR band care
  • Post femoral sheath care
  • Cardiac rhythm interpretation
• Drip management:

  • Cardiac drips (e.g., Amiodarone at set rate, Cardizem)
  • Insulin titration (travelers without insulin or cardiac drip experience will be declined)

Unit Support

• CNA support (ratio 1:6-12)
• Charge nurse (may have patient assignments if needed)
• Phlebotomy services
• 24/7 resource nurse (ICU trained)
• 24/7 respiratory therapy
• 24/7 hospitalist coverage
• Trauma surgery team manages their own patients
• PT/OT available Monday through Friday
• IV/VAT team available for ultrasound-guided IVs and PICC/Midline placements; RNs start their own peripheral IVs

Equipment & Charting

• Cerner electronic health record system (highly preferred)
• Alaris IV pumps
• Pyxis medication dispensing system
• GE patient monitors

Orientation & Floating

• General hospital orientation plus 1 day unit orientation
• May float to Emergency Department, ICU, or CCU if intermediate care assignments exist in those areas
• CCU patient types include CHF, STEMI, NSTEMI, etc.

Scheduling & Time Off

• Shift times: 7 AM – 7:30 PM or 7 PM – 7 AM
• Weekend rotation every other weekend
• May be placed on low census callback
• Time off requests require manager approval
• Holiday work expectations vary based on unit needs

Additional Information

• Professional scrub color of choice allowed
• Free parking in designated areas

Required Pre-Employment Documentation & Checks

• Current ACLS and BLS certifications
• Clinical references (2)
• Criminal background check
• Drug screen
• Employment authorization
• Immunizations and titers (Hep B, MMR, Varicella, TDAP) or declination forms
• N95 mask fit test and respirator questionnaire
• Physical exam and PPD test
• Various compliance and confidentiality agreements
• Skills checklist and unit competency verification