Oncology PCU Registered Nurse
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital

Registered Nurse - PCU (Travel/Contract)

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 16 weeks

Unit & Patient Information

• Medical Oncology with progressive care beds and some pediatric patients (pediatric patients are very rare; pediatric experience not required)
• High acuity Progressive Care Unit (PCU) with some med-surg patients
• Patient Diagnoses include Solid Tumor, Orthopedic Oncology, Thoracic Oncology
• 36-bed Oncology Telemetry unit with over 24 beds dedicated to PCU level of care
• Heavy focus on infection prevention protocols and patient falls

Schedule

• Self-scheduling requests accepted before final schedule posting
• Orientation:

  • Week 1: Monday to Friday, dayshift
  • Week 2: 36 hours on-unit orientation with a preceptor
• 12-hour day/night rotating shifts possible; shift assignments reviewed every 4 weeks but not guaranteed

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio
• Minimum 1 year of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification

Patient Care Ratios

• Med Surg Telemetry: 1:4-5
• PCU: 1:3

Skills Required

• Interpretation of dysrhythmias
• Use of rapid response teams
• Feeding tube care and management
• Accessing Ports
• Blood product administration
• Central line and peripheral line care/management
• PICC line management
• Starting IVs
• Heparin protocols
• Managing cardiac drips (no titration)
• PCA pumps
• Titration of cardiac drips
• Chest tubes (Emerson/Pleur-evac)
• External CPAP/BIPAP
• High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)
• Interpretation of ABGs
• Nasal cannula use
• Tracheostomy management

Preferred Skills

• Management of dysrhythmias
• IV insulin protocols and titration of insulin drips
• Phlebotomy
• Chemotherapy administration and monitoring
• Wound care/Wound Vac
• Arterial line management
• Surgical drains
• Non-invasive airway management

Equipment Used

• B450 monitors with GE telemetry system
• Bladder scanner
• Alaris pumps
• Stryker beds
• Continuous bladder irrigation
• PCA pumps

Orientation & Training

• Week 1: Monday to Friday, dayshift orientation
• Week 2: 36 hours on-unit orientation with a preceptor

Background & Compliance Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check within 90 days of start, including FBI and BCI fingerprinting (Ohio-specific codes apply)
• Monthly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG monitoring
• Education accreditation confirmation required for nursing degree from accredited programs
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug screen within 3 months of start (no pending tests allowed)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start confirming good health and free of contagious disease
• Immunizations and health documents required:

  • Tdap (adult dose after age 11/12)
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • TB questionnaire
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination or positive titer
  • Hepatitis B titer or vaccine series (declination acceptable)
  • Varicella vaccination or positive titer (medical exemptions reviewed)
  • Seasonal flu vaccine or declination during flu season (10/1 - 3/31)
• Annual background check not required by client but required by agency
• Fingerprinting must be completed prior to start; new fingerprinting required if break in service >90 days or results older than 1 year

Competency & Testing Requirements

• Medication test/pharmacology competency exam prior to start
• Unit-specific competency exam required
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required within 1 year of start and updated annually (minimum passing score 76%)
• Orientation safety manual acknowledgement required annually

References & Documentation

• Two professional references required; at least one from a manager or formal leadership (charge RN acceptable as second reference)
• Employment application required including education verification
• Skills checklist required

Benefits & Additional Information

• Competitive salary (pay details excluded)
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Flexible scheduling with self-schedule requests
• Comprehensive benefits package

This job requires a Registered Nurse with PCU experience, preferably with oncology exposure, who is comfortable working in a high-acuity oncology telemetry unit with rotating 12-hour shifts. Prior travel experience is preferred but not mandatory.