PCU/IMC Float Registered Nurse
Durango, Colorado
Mercy Regional Medical Center

Registered Nurse (PCU/IMC Float) - Night Shift

Location: Durango, Colorado
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit/Department Overview

• Float pool covers multiple PCU/IMC units including specialties such as General, Cardiac, Neuro, Oncology, Rehab, Renal, Bariatrics, Orthopedics, Trauma, ED Observation, and more.
• Nurse-to-patient ratio ranges from 1:3 to 1:4 depending on patient acuity.
• Respiratory therapy equipment available (vents, CPAP, BiPAP).
• Charge nurse assigned per unit; typically does not take patient assignments unless necessary, more common on night shifts.
• Nurse aides are present on the unit.

Schedule & Orientation

• Night shifts, 12 hours per shift, approximately 36 hours per week.
• Schedule created by leadership for 6 weeks at a time; travelers must be flexible to fill gaps in permanent scheduling.
• Weekend requirement: 6-9 weekend shifts within each 6-week schedule.
• May be asked to participate in holiday rotation.
• Call or standby is rare and only for low census situations.
• Orientation lasts 1-2 days with a preceptor.
• Clinicians must be in-state for the week of orientation even if some modules are remote.

Job Responsibilities & Floating

• Travelers are expected to float throughout a 60-mile radius zone from the city center, covering all units in the zone. Housing must accommodate this floating requirement.
• Units assigned daily and may include ICU (low acuity holds), PCU/Stepdown, and Medical-Surgical Telemetry.
• Must be comfortable titrating and managing cardiac drips, insulin, ativan, and heparin. Common drips include dopamine, dobutamine, cardizem, amiodarone, ativan, insulin, and heparin.

Patient Population & Common Diagnoses

• Adult to geriatric patients with conditions including cardiac, neurological, orthopedic, oncology, renal, urology post-surgical, general surgery post-appendectomy, gynecology, psychiatric/detox, ENT, general medicine, and stable long-term placement patients.

Required Certifications & Skills

• Current BLS and ACLS certifications (American Heart Association).
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification required.
• Minimum 2 years of PCU/IMC nursing experience required.
• Preferred: prior neurological experience and Epic electronic health record experience.
• Must have experience with cardiac drips, insulin, and ativan.

Additional Notes

• Dress code: any scrub color allowed.
• All time off requests must be submitted prior to starting the assignment.