Progressive Care Unit RN (Telemetry/Step-Down)
Opelika, Alabama
East Alabama Medical Center

Job Opportunity: PCU Registered Nurse (RN)

Location: Opelika, Alabama
Contract Length: 8 weeks

Job Description

Seeking PCU RNs for day and night shifts with experience in cardiac and telemetry care. Responsibilities include cardiac drip management and providing a higher level of care. Ventilator management experience is preferred.

Unit Details

• Unit Type: Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Step-down unit from ICU
• Beds: 27 currently, potential to expand to 36 beds
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: 1:3 or 1:4 based on patient acuity
• Patient Population: Adults aged 18 to 100+ with diagnoses such as acute on chronic respiratory failure, COPD exacerbations, pneumonia, CHF exacerbations, CVA, TIA, AMS, seizures, acute encephalopathy, sepsis, UTI, AKI, ESRD, ACS, NSTEMI, chest pain, A-fib with RVR, bradycardia, GI bleed, and hyper/hypoglycemia

Required Qualifications

• Valid Alabama Nursing License (RN)
• BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS certifications
• Experience: Critical care or step-down experience preferred but not required
• Ventilator and BiPAP experience preferred
• Ability to titrate drips with physician orders and parameters

Common Skills & Responsibilities

• Manage cardiac drips including Cardizem, Amiodarone, Primacor, Dobutamine, Dopamine, Heparin, Argatroban, Integrilin, Nitroglycerin, Corvert, Bumex, Lasix, Magnesium Sulfate, Procainamide
• Analyze heart rhythms throughout shifts and review rhythm strips at shift end
• Perform EKGs on the unit
• Work with telemetry monitors (Phillips brand) and oxygen monitoring equipment
• Use respiratory therapy equipment such as ventilators (via tracheostomy), NIV, BiPAPs, CPAPs, Vapotherms, Opti-flows, high-flow nasal cannulas, and Air Life masks

Scheduling & Work Environment

• 12-hour shifts (06:45am–6:45pm or 6:45pm–6:45am)
• Self-scheduling with schedules posted 2 weeks in advance
• Weekend requirement: Every other weekend
• Holiday requirement: Rotating major and minor holidays
• No on-call requirement; low census call-back possible
• Floating to sister unit (Cardiac Thoracic Care Unit) may be required based on experience
• Charge nurse assigns patients; house supervisor available afternoons, nights, weekends, and holidays
• Multi-care technicians (MCT) assist with patient care (typical ratio 6-9 patients per MCT)

Orientation & Training

• Unit-specific orientation includes online learning modules, passing an EKG exam, and competency-based training determined by the education department

Additional Information

• Nurse-to-patient ratios are based on acuity, not room numbers
• Scrub color: Ceil Blue
• Radius rule: 100 miles

Experience Requirements

• Specialty: PCU RN
• Required Years of Experience: Preferred critical care or step-down experience (not explicitly required)
• Prior travel experience: Not required

This position is ideal for RNs with cardiac and telemetry experience looking to work in a progressive care setting with a supportive team and structured scheduling.