Progressive Care Unit (PCU) Oncology Registered Nurse
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital

Registered Nurse - PCU

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

Unit & Patient Information

• Medical Oncology with progressive care beds; includes some pediatric patients (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.
• Unit has 36 beds, over 24 dedicated to PCU level of care.
• Heavy focus on infection prevention protocols and patient fall prevention.

Schedule

• Self-scheduling requests allowed; final schedule balanced and posted by department.
• Orientation:

  • Week 1: Monday to Friday, dayshift orientation.
  • Week 2: 36 hours on-unit orientation with a preceptor.
• Shift: 12-hour day/night rotating shifts; may be scheduled days, nights, or combination based on staffing needs. Shift assignments reviewed every 4 weeks but not guaranteed changes.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Minimum 1 year of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience, with PCU experience within the last year required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• 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

• Dysrhythmia interpretation
• 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
• IV starts
• Heparin protocols
• Cardiac drip management (no titration)
• PCA pumps
• Titration of cardiac drips
• Chest tube management (Emerson/Pleur-evac)
• External CPAP/BIPAP
• High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)
• ABG interpretation
• Nasal cannula oxygen delivery
• Tracheostomy management

Preferred Skills

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

Equipment Used

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

Orientation & Training

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

Required Background & Compliance

• 7-year criminal background check within 90 days of start, including FBI and BCI fingerprinting (Ohio-specific requirements apply).
• Education accreditation verification required for nursing degree (must be from accredited nursing program).
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug screen within 3 months of start (no pending drug screens allowed).
• Various health documents required including:

  • Physical exam within 1 year of start
  • Immunizations and titers (MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Tdap)
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or declination during flu season
• Competency exams required:

  • Medication/pharmacology competency exam
  • Unit-specific competency exam
  • Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam (must be completed within 1 year of start and updated annually)
• References: 2 professional references required, at least one from a manager or formal leadership.

Benefits

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

Notes

• Pediatric patients are rare on this unit and typically cared for by permanent staff; pediatric experience is not required.
• Shift assignments are based on staffing priorities and may change every 4 weeks but are not guaranteed.
• Must be comfortable working in a high-acuity PCU telemetry environment with oncology patients.
• Prior travel experience is preferred but not mandatory.

Summary

This is a travel Registered Nurse position in a high-acuity Progressive Care Unit specializing in oncology telemetry patients. The role requires strong PCU experience, critical care skills, and certifications including BCLS, ACLS, and NIH Stroke Certification. The contract is approximately 16 weeks with rotating 12-hour day/night shifts and includes a structured orientation period. Prior oncology experience and travel experience are preferred but not required.