PCU Registered Nurse
Saint Louis, Missouri
Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse (Travel/Contract)

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Specialty: Registered Nurse (PCU RN)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Start Date: Approximately 3-4 weeks out (per compliance tier)
• Shift: Weekend required every other weekend
• Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours per week
• Patient Ratios: 1:3-5
• Experience Required: Minimum 2 years in specialty (Telemetry or step-down experience required)
• First-timers Accepted: Yes
• On-call: No
• Floating: Yes, within service line before the house
• Locals Accepted: No (home address must be at least 75 miles from facility)
• Pending License Accepted: Yes
• Time Off Restrictions: Up to 2 requests allowed, no more than 40 hours (5 days) total during contract

Certifications Required

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• Must pass Relias EKG exam (Interpretation/Management of Dysrhythmias required)

Clinical Requirements & Skills

• Telemetry or step-down nursing experience required
• Experience with EKG, cardiac drips
• Comfortable caring for lower acuity patients initially (unit transitioning from High Risk Cardiology to PCU in October)

Patient Diagnoses Commonly Seen

• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Arrhythmias (A-fib, A-flutter)
• Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS-STEMI/NSTEMI)
• Heart Valve Disease
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Hypertensive Crisis
• Chest pain, shortness of breath, syncope
• Pacemaker/AICD malfunction
• Acute renal failure
• LVAD patients
• Post-cardiac surgery (CABG, valve, transplant)

Special Procedures / Unit Details

• Cardiac Catheterization
• Pacemaker/AICD Placement
• Echocardiogram
• Treadmill Stress Test
• Nuclear Stress Test
• Cardiac MRI/CT
• Cardioversion/Ablation
• Carotid Doppler
• Pulmonary Function Test
• Anti-arrhythmic Drug Loading
• Post-heart transplant care
• Post-CABG valve care
• Post-LVAD care
• Chest tubes/Pericardial drains
• Temporary and permanent cardiac pacing
• Arterial pressure monitoring
• Tracheostomy management and care
• Insulin infusions

Special Equipment: LVADs

Facility Highlights

• Type: Short Term Acute Care
• Magnet & Teaching Hospital
• Level I Trauma Center
• Total Staffed Beds: 1,266
• Charting System: EPIC
• Scrub Color: Navy

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Government-issued ID required
• Criminal background check within 6 months (including statewide, nationwide, and international if applicable)
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks quarterly
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required
• Professional license primary source verification (Missouri licenses via NURSYS)
• Drug testing within 1 year, must include specific panels and be valid throughout assignment
• Physical exam within 1 year
• Fit mask test required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and titers required:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (every 10 years)
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray (with yearly questionnaire)
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (vaccination or immunity proof)
  • Hepatitis B declination form required (not vaccine)
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season (09/30 - 04/01)
• Unit-specific competency exams including Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam (Relias or equivalent)
• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam as applicable
• Unit-specific skills checklist within 1 year of start
• References: Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)
• Employment application required

Additional Notes

• Candidates must be comfortable with a unit transitioning from High Risk Cardiology to PCU, initially caring for lower acuity patients until full transition in October.
• Floating within the service line is expected.
• Locals are not accepted; must live at least 75 miles away from the facility.
• Time off is limited to 2 requests totaling no more than 40 hours during the contract.

This position is ideal for RNs with cardiac telemetry or step-down experience looking for a travel contract in a high-acuity, teaching hospital environment with a focus on cardiac care.