PCU Registered Nurse
Overland Park, Kansas
Saint Luke's South Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse – PCU (Progressive Care Unit)

Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Night (3 shifts per week, 12 hours each, 18:45–7:15)
Hours per Week: 36 hours

Job Description

• Patient ratio: 1 nurse to 6 patients
• Experience required: 2 years (higher end of 1 to 2 years range)
• First-time travelers accepted
• Weekend requirement: 8 weekend shifts within a 6-week schedule period (Friday, Saturday, Sunday combination)
• Floating required: Position is a float pool role with no home unit; floating regularly between approximately 5 Med/Surg Intermediate/PCU departments and other metro campuses as needed
• Holiday shifts and Charge RN assignments may be required
• Work settings include: Medical-Surgical/Telemetry, Telemetry, Neuro Stepdown, PCU/DOU/IMC/Stepdown
• Charting system: Epic

Required Skills and Competencies

• Cardiac monitoring and emergency response:

  • Interpretation and management of dysrhythmias
  • Telemetry monitoring on unit
  • Use of Rapid Response Teams
• Cardiovascular care: Post-myocardial infarction, pre/post cardiac catheterization
• Endocrine/metabolic: IV insulin protocols
• Gastrointestinal: Feeding tube care and management
• Genitourinary/renal: Continuous bladder irrigation, pre/post hemodialysis management, renal failure care
• IV therapy/phlebotomy: Accessing ports, blood product administration, central line and PICC line care/management, peripheral line care, starting IVs
• Medication management: Heparin protocols, cardiac drips (no titration), PCA
• Plastics: Surgical drains
• Respiratory care: Chest tubes (Emerson/Pleur-evac), external CPAP/BIPAP, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), ABG interpretation, nasal cannula, oxygen face masks, portable oxygen tanks, non-invasive airway management, tracheostomy management
• Professional skills: Isolation precautions, wound care including wound vac
• Competency exams required:

  • Dysrhythmia/EKG competency (minimum 80% pass rate)
  • Unit-specific competency exam (updated annually)
  • Medication/pharmacology competency exam (must meet Angoff score or 80%)
  • Color blindness testing within 12 months of start

Required Certifications and Licenses

• Registered Nurse license valid for Kansas
• BLS (Basic Life Support) – AHA only
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification required
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) preferred but not required
• Other certifications may be required depending on unit (refer to unit-specific requirements)

Work Requirements and Conditions

• On-call: Not required
• Floating: Yes, regular floating between units and facilities
• Block scheduling: Not accommodated
• Locals accepted within local radius
• Pending licenses not accepted
• Return to work restrictions: No more than 7 days
• Guaranteed hours: Minimum 3 shifts per 13 weeks (cancelled shifts must be full shift length)

Patient Population

• Wide variety of patients including but not limited to:

  • Heart failure
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Stroke
  • COPD
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Bacteremia
  • Cellulitis
  • Hematuria
  • Seizures
  • Alcohol withdrawal

Compliance and Background Requirements

• Government-issued ID required
• Criminal background check within 6 months of start (7-year search including statewide and nationwide checks)
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required (cannot pend at start)
• Fingerprinting required for assignments involving long-term care or rehab units in Illinois
• Professional license primary source verification required (NURSYS verification for Missouri licenses)
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include specific panels (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methadone, opiates, oxycodone, PCP) and be valid throughout assignment
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask (N95) testing required annually
• Immunizations and titers required or declination forms accepted for:

  • Tdap (Tdap vaccine or declination required)
  • TB testing (2 negative PPDs or equivalent within 1 year)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (positive titer, vaccines, or declination)
  • Hepatitis B declination required (vaccine not mandatory)
• Seasonal flu vaccination or medical/religious exemption required during flu season (Sept 30 – April 1)

Facility-Specific Documents and Training

• Badge photo required (head and shoulders, white background, no obstructions, taken within 6 months)
• HIPAA acknowledgement, confidentiality form, latex allergy questionnaire, hand hygiene policy, fingernail policy, dress code policy must be reviewed and signed prior to start
• Regulatory compliance education quiz (annual, must score 80% or higher)
• Orientation modules (approx. 16 hours) required for all RNs, completed through online platform before start
• Additional healthstream modules may be required prior to start

References and History

• Two professional references required (supervisors within last year preferred)
• Employment application must be submitted and uploaded
• Unit-specific skills checklist required within 1 year of start (Oncology skills checklist required for Med Surg-Oncology unit)
• Performance evaluations may be requested but are not mandatory for extensions or per diem status

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Kansas
• Minimum of 1 year of recent experience in Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

This position offers a challenging and diverse clinical environment with opportunities to develop skills across multiple intermediate care units. It is ideal for RNs with at least 2 years of experience seeking travel assignments with floating responsibilities and weekend availability.