Progressive Care Unit RN
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Parkridge Medical Center

Registered Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Hours per Week: 36

Unit Overview

• Unit: Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• Beds: 29
• Patient Ratio: 4:1
• Staffing: Dayshift includes unit secretary and 2-3 Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) depending on census; Nightshift has 2-3 PCTs.
• Equipment: Welch Allyn dynamaps, Phillips telemetry and MP2 monitors, Pyxis, Alaris pumps, Hill-Rom beds, iMobile devices, MobiLab specimen collection system.
• Documentation System: Meditech
• Scheduling: 3 weekend shifts per 4-week schedule; self-scheduling allowed within reason; schedule finalized 2 weeks in advance; block scheduling available for night shift.
• Floating Policy: Travel RNs float first, rotating by longest float date.

Patient Population & Care

• Heavy cardiac patient population including post-cardiac surgery patients transitioning from ICU.
• Care for complex medical, cardiac, and surgical patients requiring intermediate care, including:

  • Sepsis, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, heart blocks
  • Post cardiac catheterization, acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • Diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), acute and chronic respiratory failure
  • GI bleed, pneumonia, post-operative coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve surgery, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery
• Frequent assessments: Q6H head-to-toe assessments with full documentation.
• Medication management includes titration of dopamine, dobutamine, nitroglycerin, heparin, Cardizem, lidocaine, milrinone, amiodarone, Cardene, labetalol, insulin, and Precedex.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Tennessee
• Minimum 2 years of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience, including experience within the last year
• Telemetry experience
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certification
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Work Environment & Culture

• Team-oriented unit with a positive atmosphere and strong employee engagement.
• Travel RNs are treated equally to core staff, with the only difference being travel RNs float first.
• Self-scheduling is supported to help balance work-life needs.
• High patient satisfaction and quality metrics maintained.
• Many travel RNs have returned for extended or multiple contracts.
• Experienced RNs with ICU background available on both day and night shifts.
• Use of advanced technology including iMobile devices for encrypted communication and chart access, and MobiLab for specimen collection.
• Wound care documentation facilitated by mobile app with photo upload capability.

Dress Code

• Navy scrubs required.

This position offers a supportive, technologically advanced environment caring for complex cardiac and medical patients in an intermediate care setting.