Progressive Care Unit RN
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Registered Nurse – PCU (Progressive Care Unit)

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Overview

• Stepdown/PCU mixed-acuity unit caring for adult and geriatric patients with general chronic medical conditions.
• Requires comfort working in a progressive care environment.
• Floating within the organization as needed.
• Night shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 PM – 7:30 AM).
• Float and call responsibilities required.
• Documentation system: Epic.
• Medication systems: Pyxis, Accudose, Omnicell.
• Communication method: SBAR.
• In-house provider support available 24/7.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio.
• Minimum 1 year of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience within the last year.
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• ACLS certification.
• Successful completion of Pharmacology Competency Exam.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).

Background and Credentialing Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check within 90 days of start, including SS Trace, counties lived/worked, nationwide check, sex offender registry, and MVR if driving is required. FBI and BCI fingerprinting required prior to start.
• Education must be from an accredited nursing program (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA).
• License verification and NURSYS verification required within 30 days of start.
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug screen within 3 months of start (includes amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methadone, methaqualone, opiates, PCP, propoxyphene). New travelers cannot start with drug screen pending.
• Physical exam within 1 year of start confirming good health and free of contagious disease.
• Fingerprinting must be completed using specific Ohio codes; results typically take 1-2 weeks. New fingerprinting required if break in service exceeds 90 days or results are older than 1 year.
• Pending background check attestation required if fingerprint results are pending at start.

Certifications and Competencies

• Unit-specific competency exam required.
• Medication test/pharmacology competency exam required prior to start.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required within 1 year of start and updated annually (minimum passing score 76%).
• Orientation safety manual acknowledgment required annually.
• NIH Stroke Certification may be required depending on unit (verify with recruiter).

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Negative TB test (PPD, QGold, or TSPOT) within 1 year or chest x-ray if positive. Annual TB questionnaire required in lieu of annual TB test.
• Tdap vaccine (adult dose after age 11/12) required; exemptions not allowed for those working with infants or pregnant patients.
• 2 MMR vaccines or positive titers for Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, and Rubella required. Boosters required if low titer and no vaccine proof.
• Varicella: 2 vaccines or positive titer required unless medically exempted with documentation.
• Hepatitis B: Titer or 3-vaccine series required; signed declination acceptable.
• Seasonal flu vaccine or declination required during flu season (Oct 1 – Mar 31); decliners must wear a mask at all times. Contract candidates cannot receive flu vaccine onsite.
• COVID-19 vaccination not required but strongly recommended.

Additional Facility Requirements

• Dress code and hand hygiene policy must be reviewed and signed.
• Confidential Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Compliance Reporting Mechanism form required.
• Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training certificate required prior to start and updated annually.
• Ethics and compliance policies must be reviewed and acknowledged annually.
• 2 professional references required; at least one must be from a manager or formal leader. Charge RN acceptable as second reference.
• Employment application and skills checklist required.
• Fit mask testing required annually for inpatient/patient-facing roles; onsite fit testing available if needed.

Summary

This travel RN position on a Stepdown/PCU unit in Columbus, Ohio offers a night shift schedule with floating and call duties. Candidates must have at least 2 years of recent RN experience, Ohio licensure, and current BLS and ACLS certifications. The role requires compliance with extensive background checks, fingerprinting, health screenings, and immunizations. First-time travelers are welcome. Competency exams and unit-specific certifications are mandatory. The facility uses Epic for documentation and requires adherence to strict policies on dress code, compliance, and safety.