Progressive Care (PCU) RN
Asheville, North Carolina
Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

Job Opportunity: RN - Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Information

• Unit: Cardiovascular Progressive Care (CVPC)
• Patient Population:

  • Cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery patients, including open heart surgery (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 (heart failure, DKA, chest pain, sepsis, heart block)
• Number of Beds: 40 cardiac surgery stepdown beds
• Staffing:

  • Day Shift: 1 charge RN (often out of staffing), 13 RNs, 4 PCTs, 1.33 HUC
  • Night Shift: 1 charge RN (often out of staffing), 13 RNs, 4 PCTs, 0.33 HUC
• Patient Ratios:

  • RN: 1:5 patients
  • PCT: 1:13 patients
• Equipment: Baxter IV pumps, CADD epidural pumps, various lifts
• EMR System: Cerner

Required Skills and Experience

• Must Have:

  • Stepdown experience
  • Telemetry experience
• Preferred:

  • Prior experience with cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery populations within the last year (open heart, TAVR, lobectomy, AAA repair, fem-pop bypass)
  • Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) experience

Typical Procedures Performed

• Epidural management
• Chest tube management
• Tube feedings
• IV gluccomander use
• Cardiac drip management (phenylephrine, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, cardizem, amiodarone, insulin, heparin, nitroglycerin, ketamine)

Work Environment and Culture

• Team-oriented, fast-paced, and flexible work environment
• Floating areas include any stepdown unit (1:5 or 1:6-7 ratios) and ER inpatient holding area (1:6)
• Dress code: All navy scrubs, white tops with navy bottoms, or all white

Schedule and Call

• No on-call requirements
• Minimum 6 weekend shifts (Saturday/Sunday day or night) per 6-week schedule period
• Flexibility to work holidays

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina
• Minimum 2 years of stepdown nursing experience, including experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certification
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of experience as an RN in the specialty (Progressive Care/Telemetry/Stepdown)

Prior Travel Experience

• Not explicitly required for this position

This role offers the opportunity to work in a nationally recognized hospital with a strong cardiovascular program and a supportive team environment.