ER Holding/PCU Registered Nurse
San Diego, California
UC San Diego Float Pool

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - ER Holding

Location: San Diego, California
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Shift: Night (3 shifts per week, 12 hours each, 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Work primarily in the Emergency Room (ER) holding unit with Progressive Care Unit (PCU) patients.
• Must have PCU experience.
• May start in May.
• Must be open to floating between multiple campuses and PCU units system-wide, including La Jolla and Hillcrest locations.
• Patient population includes ED inpatients requiring ICU or IMU/PCU level care, with conditions such as cardiac issues, LVAD, pulmonary hypertension, cancer, respiratory, surgical, and transplant patients.
• Documentation system used: EPIC.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in California.
• Minimum 2 years of Emergency Department (ED) experience, including experience within the last year.
• Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Current ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• Current BLS (Basic Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• Current PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• IV start skills.

Certifications & Competencies

• ACLS: Required for ER, Telemetry, PCU, IMU, ICU, and related units.
• BLS: Required for all RNs.
• Medication Test/Pharmacology Competency Exam: Passing score of 80% or higher required.
• Competency Exam: Required for clinical positions with a passing score of 80% or higher.
• Color Blind Testing: Required; online acceptable or in-person with a physician.
• Additional certifications (e.g., PALS, NRP, CNOR) may be required depending on unit assignment but are not specified for this role.

Health & Safety Requirements

• Standard physical exam within 1 year of start by MD, DO, PA, or NP.
• Fit mask test (N95 or equivalent) passed and updated annually.
• Immunizations and titers required:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (within 10 years or titer with declination form)
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray (recent Q Gold/Tspot or PPDs)
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella: Positive titer or 2 vaccines required.
  • Hepatitis B: Proof of vaccination and positive titer preferred; declination with signed form accepted.
  • Varicella: Positive titer or 2 vaccines required.
• 9 Panel Drug Screen within 30 days of start.
• Seasonal flu vaccination strongly preferred during flu season (Nov 1 – Mar 31); declination requires forms.
• Current COVID vaccine (including bivalent) or signed declination required.

Background & Screening

• Criminal background check within 6 months of start, including SSN trace with all aliases.
• County, sexual offender, national criminal databases, and DMV checks (if driving).
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required within 30 days of start and monthly thereafter.
• California Medi-Cal search required within 30 days of start and monthly thereafter.
• License verification and no probation status allowed.
• References: Two leadership references from the past 2 years in the specialty required; at least one from a manager or supervisor preferred.
• Drug testing and health screenings must be current with no pending results at start.

Additional Information

• Must be willing to float to multiple campuses and units as census requires.
• Prior travel experience is not required; first-time travelers are accepted.
• Orientation and facility-specific training modules will be provided prior to or at start.
• Night shift schedule with 36 hours per week (3 shifts of 12 hours).
• Compliance with all facility-specific policies and documentation requirements is mandatory.

This position is ideal for experienced PCU RNs seeking a travel contract in a dynamic ER holding environment with diverse patient populations and opportunities to float across multiple units.