PCU Registered Nurse
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital

Registered Nurse – PCU (Progressive Care Unit)

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 16 weeks

Unit & Patient Care Information

• Medical Oncology unit with progressive care beds and some pediatric patients (pediatric experience not required).
• High acuity PCU patients with a small amount of med-surg care.
• Patient diagnoses include Solid Tumor, Orthopedic Oncology, and Thoracic Oncology.
• Unit has 36 beds, with over 24 beds dedicated to PCU level of care.
• Heavy focus on infection prevention protocols and patient fall prevention.
• Staffing ratios:

  • Med Surg Telemetry: 1 nurse to 4-5 patients
  • PCU: 1 nurse to 3 patients
• Required to float within units of equivalent or lower acuity.

Schedule & Orientation

• Shift: Night shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 PM – 7:30 AM).
• Self-scheduling requests are accepted before final schedule posting.
• Orientation:

  • Week 1: Monday to Friday, day shift orientation.
  • Week 2: 36 hours of on-unit orientation with a preceptor.
• Shift assignments may rotate between days and nights based on department needs, reviewed every 4 weeks but not guaranteed.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio.
• Minimum 1 year of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience within the last year.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) certification.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Central line and PICC line care and management.
• Management of cardiac drips without titration and titration of cardiac drips.
• Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump management.
• Chest tube care including Emerson/Pleur-evac systems.
• Use and management of external CPAP/BIPAP devices.
• High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) management.
• Tracheostomy care and management.

Skills & Competencies Required

• Interpretation of dysrhythmias and use of rapid response teams.
• Feeding tube care and management.
• Accessing and managing Ports, central lines, peripheral lines, and PICC lines.
• Blood product administration.
• Starting IVs and managing heparin protocols.
• Managing cardiac drips (no titration) and titrating cardiac drips.
• PCA pump management.
• Chest tube care (Emerson/Pleur-evac).
• Use of external CPAP/BIPAP and High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC).
• Interpretation of arterial blood gases (ABGs).
• Nasal cannula oxygen delivery and tracheostomy management.

Preferred Skills

• Management of dysrhythmias.
• IV insulin protocols and titration of insulin drips.
• Phlebotomy.
• Chemotherapy administration and monitoring.
• Wound care including wound vac.
• Arterial line management.
• Surgical drain care.
• Non-invasive airway management.

Equipment Used

• B450 monitors with GE telemetry system.
• Bladder scanner.
• Alaris infusion pumps.
• Stryker beds.
• Continuous bladder irrigation systems.
• PCA pumps.

Additional Requirements & Notes

• Two professional references required; at least one must be from a manager or formal leadership.
• Employment application and skills checklist required.
• Candidates must review and sign dress code and hand hygiene policies.
• Fraud, waste, and abuse training certificate required prior to start and updated annually.
• Background and credentialing processes are time-sensitive, including fingerprinting with specific codes and procedures.
• Candidates must comply with all facility-specific policies and complete required documentation and attestations.

Benefits

• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Flexible scheduling with self-schedule requests.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

This position is ideal for RNs with PCU or oncology experience seeking a travel contract in a high-acuity oncology telemetry setting with a supportive orientation and flexible scheduling.