RN - PCU

RN - PCU
• About Facility:


o Community based hospital in urban area, High Point, NC


o 601 N. Elm Street, High Point, NC 27262


o 351 licensed beds


o No Trauma Designation


o Teaching Hospital


o Chest Pain Center


o Stroke Center
• Unit Information:


o Beds: 18
• Average Daily Census = 18


o Minimum Years of Experience required? 1 year Cardiac Tele experience or PCU experience


o Will you accept a first-time traveler? Yes
• Patient Types/Common Diagnoses:


o General medical patients requiring continuous monitoring of cardiac, respiratory, hemodynamic and neurologic status having a NSTEMI or status post STEMI, cardiac interventional procedure, electrophysiology procedure, thoracic surgery, heart failure, post stroke


o General, Vascular, or immediate thoracic surgical patients requiring continuous cardiac, respiratory or hemodynamic support include pharmacological titration of cardiac anti-arrhythmic drips (Amiodarone, Cardizem, Cardene, Dobutamine, Tridil, etc)


o Post op day 2 post open heart


o Respiratory failure requiring medium or high flow oxygen devices or NIPPV
• Patient Ratios:


o RN: 1:3 or 1:4 depending on interventions.
• Required Licensure & Certifications:


o BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS
• Skills required:


o Cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring, cardiac strip and rhythm interpretation, arterial lines, titration of drips, non-invasive ventilator care (BiPAP/CPAP, we have Respiratory Therapist 24/7), vascular lines, chest tubes or drains, post procedure site care - trans radial bands, femoral venous or arterial sheaths, post EP permanent pacemaker or ICD, post pulmonary artery thrombectomy (Prenumbra, Inari)
• Support within the Department:


o CNA? Yes


o Receptionist/HUC? No


o Charge nurse? Yes


o Phlebotomy? Varies


o IV/VAT Team? No


o Resource Nurse? No (Charge Nurse serves as Resource)


o Rapid Response Team? Yes


o RT 24/7? Yes


o Hospitalist 24/7? Yes


o Telemetry monitoring? The RN is responsible for continuous cardiac monitoring including interpretation of the rhythm
• Technology/Equipment:


o EMR: EPIC


o IV Pump: Baxter


o Med dispensing: Omnicell


o Monitors: Philips Intellivue; all 18 rooms have an in room monitor


o Unit specific equipment: Arterial lines for invasive blood pressure monitoring interfaces with Philips monitors
• Floating: If yes, where?


o Float within the critical care division or Intermediate Care.
• Orientation (facility and unit) :


o Orientation - 36 hours week 1 includes NTO and Online CBL (Healthstream)


o 12-hour departmental specific orientation shift with an RN Preceptor
• Scheduling:


o Weekend rotation: every other


o On call? None


o Holiday Expectations: Travelers will work 75% of holidays


o RTO: Resource Team approval


o Shift times: Nights = 1900-0730.


o Schedule cycle: Every 6 weeks
• Other notes:


o Scrub Color: Royal Blue


o Parking: Free


o Unit Culture: Positive Team focused (High Tech, High Touch); We work as ONE team.