PCU RN
Asheville, North Carolina
Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

Registered Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Hours per Week: 36

Unit Overview

• Unit: Cardiovascular Progressive Care (CVPC) - 40 cardiac surgery stepdown beds
• Patient Population:

  • Cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery patients (e.g., open heart surgery including CABG, AVR, MVR, Bentall, TAVR)
  • Thoracic lung surgery (lobectomy, thoracotomy)
  • Esophagogastrectomy
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (open and endovascular)
  • Femoral-popliteal bypass
  • Carotid endarterectomies
  • Overflow medical cardiology patients with heart failure, DKA, chest pain, sepsis, heart block, etc.
• Staffing:

  • Day shift: 1 charge RN (often out of staffing), 13 RNs, 4 Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), 1.33 Health Unit Coordinators (HUC)
  • Night shift: 1 charge RN (often out of staffing), 13 RNs, 4 PCTs, 0.33 HUC
• Patient Ratios: 1 RN to 5 patients; 1 PCT to 13 patients
• Equipment: Baxter IV pumps, CADD epidural pumps, various lifts
• EMR System: Cerner

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in North Carolina
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing
• Minimum 2 years of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience, including experience within the last year
• Telemetry experience
• Vascular Surgery experience
• ACLS certification
• BLS certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the past year caring for cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery patients (open heart, TAVR, lobectomy, AAA repair, fem-pop bypass)
• Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) experience

Typical Procedures Performed

• Epidural management
• Chest tube management
• Tube feedings
• IV glucose management
• Cardiac drip management including phenylephrine, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, cardizem, amiodarone, insulin, heparin, nitroglycerin, ketamine

Work Environment & Schedule

• Fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Flexible and adaptable personality preferred
• Weekend Requirement: Minimum 6 weekend shifts (day or night) per 6-week schedule period
• No on-call required
• Floating assignments may include any stepdown unit (1:5 or 1:6-7 ratios) or ER inpatient holding area (1:6 ratio)

Dress Code

• Scrubs: All navy, white tops with navy bottoms, or all white

Additional Notes

• Prior travel experience is not required for this position.