Progressive Care Nurse Salary Guide
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A progressive care RN provides direct care to patients in the progressive care unit. These units serve patients recovering from surgery or with chronic conditions. Other names for the department may include step-down or transitional care units. Patients aren't as critical as those in the ICU. However, the wide range of conditions and needs requires PCU nurses to have broad knowledge and the ability to manage various patients' needs.
How do you become a progressive care RN?
To become a PCU nurse, you must complete your RN training by completing a two-year or four-year degree program from an accredited nursing school. Next, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination before applying for your RN license in the state where you want to work. Licensure requirements vary by state but typically include proof of nursing degree, a criminal background check and an application fee. All RNs must earn Basic Life Support certification, and some hospitals may require Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification.
You don't need a specific credential to work as a progressive care RN, but you typically need extensive experience working with chronically ill patients. Some new RNs might find work in a progressive care unit right away. Others may work in the ER or other units to gain experience with a variety of conditions.
What credentials/licensing does a progressive care RN require?
You must possess an RN license in good standing in the state of practice and complete any required continuing education to keep your license current and valid. The Progressive Care Certified Nurse credential offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is usually optional but can boost your career opportunities.
To take the certification test, you need at least 1,750 clinical practice hours in the previous 2 years, including 875 hours completed within the last year. You also qualify if you have at least 2,000 hours in the previous 5 years, with a minimum of 144 hours in the last year.
Average Progressive Care Nurse Salary
$45.07/hour
The average salary for a Progressive Care Nurse is $45.07 per hour.
Last updated on April 25, 2024. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Where do Progressive Care Nurses get paid the most?
| State | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $65 | $76 |
| New York | $58 | $74 |
| Virginia | $52 | $57 |
| North Carolina | $50 | $52 |
| Colorado | $48 | $52 |
| Pennsylvania | $44 | $49 |
| Texas | $44 | $50 |
| Arizona | $44 | $58 |
| Maryland | $43 | $50 |
| Tennessee | $43 | $46 |
| Washington | $41 | $58 |
| Georgia | $41 | $43 |
| Connecticut | $40 | $54 |
| Florida | $38 | $44 |
| Missouri | $37 | $56 |
| New Jersey | $33 | $40 |
| Illinois | $32 | $41 |
| Oklahoma | $31 | $40 |
Last updated on April 25, 2024. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.
Progressive Care Nurse Career Guide
Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.
Go to the guideTop Progressive Care Nurse Jobs
Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- 3x12 hrs
Registered Nurse (RN) - PCU - Progressive Care Unit
- Good Samaritan Medical Center
- West Palm Beach, FL
- 3x12 hrs
Registered Nurse (RN) - PCU - Progressive Care Unit
- AHBD - Hospital
- Bakersfield, CA
Registered Nurse (RN) - Float Med Surg
- AHPL - Hospital
- Portland, OR
Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Protouch Staffing - Permanent
- Seattle, WA
- 3x12 hrs, Days, Nights
- Relocation Bonus
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How can you increase your pay as a progressive care RN?
One way to increase your earnings as a progressive care RN is to increase your education level. Earning a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing can put you at a higher spot on the pay scale. Also, pursue your Progressive Care Certified Nurse credential once you accrue enough hours in the progressive care unit. You could also earn a higher pay rate by specializing in a particular condition or taking on supervisory duties within your unit. Supervisory responsibilities could open up nurse leadership roles for you, typically with higher wages.
How much does a staff progressive care RN make?
The average pay for a progressive care unit (PCU) registered nurse (RN) on staff was $39.95 per hour, according to Vivian Health's data from May 2, 2023. Specific pay rates vary depending on where you work and how much experience you have in progressive care. Your educational level and professional certifications can also impact your hourly pay rate.
Is progressive care RN a growing career?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides job growth potential information for various professional fields. While the BLS doesn't provide information specifically for progressive care RNs, it does provide job growth data for the RN profession as a whole. This data indicates an increase in RN employment of 6% from 2021 to 2031. Between the rise in employment and current RNs leaving the field, job prospects are good for new RNs wanting to enter the field.
What types of employers/facilities have the most progressive care RNs?
Based on data from the BLS in May 2022, the largest types of employers for RNs in any specialty were general medical and surgical hospitals, followed by specialty hospitals. Hospitals are a common work setting for progressive care RNs because they care for ill and recovering patients. Other facilities with the most RNs in varying specialties from highest to lowest employment include psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, outpatient care centers, home health care services, nursing care facilities and physicians' offices.
Which employers/facilities have the highest pay?
BLS pay information for the entire RN cohort in May 2022 showed that in a healthcare setting, they earned the most in outpatient care centers at $97,200, but PCU nurses won’t usually work in these settings. Specialty hospitals ($91,290) and general medical and surgical hospitals ($90,600) were the next highest-paying options for RNs. These are standard work settings for progressive care RNs.
How does progressive care RN pay compare to similar healthcare jobs?
According to Vivian Health’s salary data on May 2, 2023, staff progressive care RN wages were $39.95 hourly, similar to the national average for RN wages as a whole. Some nursing specialties pay less. For example, admission nurse salaries averaged $38.02 per hour on this date. However, the pay rate for progressive care RNs was lower than many other specialty areas, such as cardiac cath lab RNs, who averaged $43.77 and labor and delivery nurses who averaged $44.51 per hour during this period.
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