Progressive Care Unit RN
Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Luke's Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - PCU

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Unit: Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
• Patient Ratios: Typically 1:4; may flex to 1:6 on rare occasions (travelers expected to take extra patients)
• Weekend Requirement: 8 weekend shifts per 6-week schedule period (Friday/Saturday/Sunday combination)
• Floating: Regular floating within scope may be required between departments, units, and facilities
• Block Schedule: Not accommodated
• Local Candidates: Not accepted (home must be at least 75 miles from facility)
• On-Call: Not required
• Guaranteed Hours: 3 shifts per 13 weeks minimum
• Return to Office Restrictions: No more than 7 days

Patient Population & Special Procedures

• Pulmonary stepdown, intermediate care
• Ventilated tracheostomy patients
• COPD and pulmonary patients requiring high acuity respiratory treatments (e.g., Airvo, BiPAP, CPAP)
• Care involving endobronchial valves and ventilators

Required Skills & Experience

• Specialty: Registered Nurse
• Minimum Experience: 2 years in nursing with strong ventilator experience (use higher years if conflicting info)
• First-Time Travelers: Accepted
• Work Settings: Medical-Surgical/Telemetry, Telemetry, Cardiac Telemetry
• Clinical Skills:

  • Cardiac monitoring and emergency response (dysrhythmia interpretation and management)
  • Gastrointestinal care including feeding tube management
  • Renal care including pre/post hemodialysis management and renal failure
  • IV therapy and phlebotomy (port access, blood product administration, central and peripheral line care, PICC line management, IV starts)
  • Medication management including heparin protocols, cardiac drips (no titration), PCA, and titration of cardiac drips
  • Neurological/psychiatric care (stroke, traumatic brain injury)
  • Respiratory care (ventilated patients, chest tubes, external CPAP/BiPAP, high flow nasal cannula, ABG interpretation, tracheostomy management)
  • Isolation precautions

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support) - AHA only
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - AHA only (certificates of completion accepted for up to 1 month)
• NIH Stroke Certification (NIHSS) - must be updated annually unless otherwise specified
• Other certifications may be required depending on unit (refer to unit-specific requirements)

License Requirements

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license for Missouri
• Pending licenses not accepted

Compliance & Background Checks

• Criminal background check within 6 months of start (7-year search including statewide and nationwide checks)
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required before start
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• State-specific searches and registries as applicable
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include standard panels and not expire during assignment
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask (N95) testing required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and health screenings including:

  • Tdap vaccine or declination
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season

Additional Requirements

• Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)
• Unit-specific competency exams and skills checklists required within 1 year of start
• Photo for badge (head and shoulders, white background, no obstructions, taken within 6 months)
• Completion of facility-specific orientation and compliance modules prior to start
• Adherence to facility policies including dress code, hand hygiene, fingernail policy, and confidentiality

Requirements / Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Missouri
• Minimum 2 years of Progressive Care Unit (PCU) experience, with PCU experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Strong ventilator experience
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification

Notes

• Floating may be required to meet facility needs
• Travelers must be prepared to manage high acuity pulmonary and cardiac patients
• This is a tertiary care hospital with Magnet recognition and Level 1 Trauma designation
• Charting system used: Epic
• Parking is free

This position is ideal for experienced RNs with strong ventilator and telemetry skills who are comfortable working in a fast-paced progressive care environment and meeting weekend shift requirements.