Progressive Care Unit Registered Nurse
Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Luke's Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - PCU

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

• Unit: Progressive Care Unit (PCU) - 24 bed Intermediate Unit
• Patient Ratios: Typically 1:5; may flex to 1:6 occasionally
• Patient Types: Intermediate medical patients and surgery overflow (e.g., TURPS, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia, eye surgery, oral surgery, diabetic teaching, wound care)
• Fast-paced environment supporting throughput from Emergency Department and Operating Room

Experience Requirements

• Specialty: Registered Nurse
• Required Years of Experience: 2 years Telemetry experience (higher value between 1-2 years)
• Prior Travel Experience: Not required
• First-time travelers: Not accepted

Work Schedule & Assignments

• Weekend Shifts: 8 weekend shifts required per 6-week schedule period (Friday, Saturday, Sunday combination)
• Holiday shifts and Charge RN assignments as needed
• Floating: Regular floating within scope across departments, units, and facilities may be required
• Block Scheduling: Not accommodated
• Locals: Not accepted (home address must be at least 75 miles from facility)
• Return to Office (RTO) Restrictions: No more than 7 days
• Guaranteed Hours: Minimum 3 shifts per 13 weeks

Certifications Required

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale)
• Additional certifications may be required depending on unit (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, CPI, MAB) - verify with unit specifics

Skills Required

• Cardiac Monitoring and Emergency Response:

  • Interpretation and management of dysrhythmias
  • Telemetry monitoring on unit
  • Use of Rapid Response Teams
• Endocrine/Metabolic: IV insulin protocols
• Gastrointestinal: Feeding tube care and management
• Genitourinary/Renal: Continuous Bladder Irrigation (CBI) management
• IV Therapy/Phlebotomy:

  • Accessing ports
  • Blood product administration
  • Central line, peripheral line, PICC line care and management
  • Starting IVs
• Medications: Heparin protocols, PCA
• Neurological/Psychiatric: CVA care
• Respiratory: Nasal cannula, oxygen face masks, portable oxygen tanks
• Professional Topics: Isolation precautions, wound care/wound vac
• Additional Skills: CBI management

Preferred Skills:

• Insulin drip titration
• Renal failure care
• Orthopedics: Ortho trauma, total joint replacements
• Plastics: Surgical drains
• Respiratory: Tracheostomy management
• Eye surgeries

Work Environment

• Facility Type: Tertiary Care Hospital
• Recognitions: 5-time Magnet Aware Winner, Teaching Hospital, Level 1 Trauma Center
• Charting System: Epic
• Scrub Color: Navy
• Parking: Free

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Government-issued ID required
• Criminal background check within 6 months, including statewide and nationwide searches
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• State-specific background checks and registries as applicable
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include comprehensive panel
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask testing (N95) required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and titers required or declination forms for:

  • Tdap (Tdap vaccine or declination required)
  • TB testing (2 negative PPDs or equivalent)
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (positive titer, vaccines, or declination)
• Flu vaccination or medical/religious exemption required during flu season
• Unit-specific competency exams and skills checklists required and must be updated annually
• References: Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)
• Employment application and various facility-specific documents (HIPAA, confidentiality, hand hygiene, dress code, etc.) must be completed prior to start

Additional Notes

• On-call: Not required
• Pending license: Not accepted
• Badge photo required (head and shoulders, white background, no obstructions, taken within 6 months)
• Floating between units and departments expected as needed

This position is ideal for experienced telemetry RNs who are comfortable in a fast-paced PCU environment and meet the specified certification and compliance requirements.