PCU Registered Nurse
Wilmington, North Carolina
New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Registered Nurse - PCU (North Carolina, Wilmington)

Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Nights (3 shifts of 12 hours; 18:45 - 7:15)
Hours per Week: 36

Job Description

• Minimum 2 years of experience on a cardiac floor required.
• Prior travel experience required unless the candidate has more than 24 months of cardiac experience.
• Patient care involves cardiac telemetry, PCU/DOU/IMC/Stepdown units.
• Skills required include sheath removal, interpretation and management of dysrhythmias, post-MI care, pre/post cardiac catheterization, managing and titrating cardiac drips, chest tubes (Emerson/Pleuravac), external CPAP/BIPAP, nasal cannula, and non-invasive airway management.
• Preferred skills: arterial line management, wound care/wound vac, and charge nurse experience.
• Patient diagnoses commonly seen: atrial fibrillation, CHF, ACS, CAD, valvular heart diseases, endocarditis, cardiomyopathy, peripheral vascular disease, vasculitis, carotid stenosis, venous stasis.
• Special procedures include CABG, AVR, MVR, TAVR, mitral clip, LAAO (Watchman procedure), VATS, carotid endarterectomy, vascular bypasses, amputations, cardiac and thoracic surgeries, post-cath care, post-DCCV, electrophysiology procedures, and pacemaker placements.
• Equipment used: arterial lines (optional), Doppler, bladder scanner, EKG, femoral sheaths, TR band, Fem-stop, chest tubes, epicardial pacing wires.
• Unit systems: Pyxis (medication), EPIC (documentation), SBAR (communication).
• Nurse-to-patient ratios vary by acuity: 1:4 for surgical step down, 1:5-6 for lower acuity patients.
• Float requirement: follows unit rotation; not first to float.
• Weekend requirement: 4 weekends per 4 weeks (flexible).
• Contract staff may be assigned to Storm/Hurricane Teams and required to report during catastrophic events or disasters.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (PCU) or Progressive Care Unit, with at least some experience within the last year.
• One completed travel nursing assignment.
• Current certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Certification in NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS).

Additional Information

• Scrubs color: Navy.
• Interview required prior to offer.
• Candidates must provide a passport-style photo on a white background for badge creation.
• Candidates will be assigned a corporate ID and must complete I-Learn account setup and training modules within specified timeframes to avoid start delays.
• Candidates must be prepared to work in a disaster or mass casualty event if required.

Summary

This is a night shift travel Registered Nurse position on a cardiac telemetry/stepdown unit requiring strong cardiac nursing skills and experience. The role demands adherence to strict credentialing, testing, and compliance requirements, with a focus on cardiac patient care and telemetry monitoring. Candidates must be flexible with floating and weekend requirements and prepared for emergency response duties.