RN - Progressive Care (Step-Down)

RN - PCU

About Facility:

o 637 licensed beds

o Level 1 Trauma Designation

o Teaching Hospital

o Chest Pain Center

o Stroke Center

● Unit Information:

o Beds: 24

▪ Census? 24

o Minimum Years of Experience required? 2 years

o Will you accept a first-time traveler? Yes

● Patient Types/Common Diagnoses:

o Primary Population- Cardiothoracic / vascular surgical patients, pre-operative and post operative step-down progressive care

o Secondary patient population-Cardiology, pulmonology, general medical / surgical

o Pre / post LVAD (Left Ventricular Device) patients

o Patients with acute or chronic disease

o Co-morbidities common to med-surg population: diabetes, hypertension, infections, CHF, electrolytes imbalances, etc.

● Patient Ratios:

o RN: 1:4-6

o LPN: 1:4-6

o CNA: 2-3 per shift

● Required License, National Certification, Certs (BLS, ACLS, etc.), or other position specific requirements such as Driver's License and/or Insurance:

o BLS (Basic Life Support); BCR (Basic Cardiac Rythm); ACLS; NIHSS – all required

o National certification - Medical-Surgical certification - preferred

● Skills required:

o trach chare, chest tube management, PIV starts, glucommander, insulin drips, heparin drips, drips to titrate to HR NOT BP

o Strong clinical assessment and med-surg nursing skills for Level 1 Trauma Hospital

o IV insertion and care, central line management

o Wound care and post op monitoring 

o Cardiac monitoring and telemetry interpretation

o Care coordination with interdisciplinary teams

o Discharge planning and patient education, particularly on renal and fluid management 

● Support within the Department:

o CNA: assist with VS, Glucose Checks, baths, feeding, ambulating patients, assisting turning patients, hourly rounding, transporting patients as needed (Hospital has designated Transport Team); obtain blood from blood bank

o Receptionist/HUC? Unit secretary on unit 7a-11p; then house wide call secretary 11p-7a

o Charge nurse? yes- each unit

o Phlebotomy? Most units are lab collect phlebotomy; nurses drawn from CVLs

o IV/VAT Team? Not an IV team - do have a PICC team

o Resource Nurse? Yes, discharge nurses; the resource team floats to all units

o RT 24/7

o Hospitalist 24/7

o Intensivist 24/7

o Telemetry monitoring/tech? Central Telemetry Unit

● Technology/Equipment:

o EMR: EPIC

o IV Pump: Alaris

o Med dispensing: Pyxis

o Monitors: Phillips

o Unit specific equipment:

▪ VS3 vital sign monitors, Nova Glucose Stat Strips Cardiac Telemetry monitoring

▪ Portable vital signs monitors (Dynamapp)

▪ Bladder scanners, IV pump, portable oxygen system

▪ Glucommander

▪ PCA pain management

▪ Suction machine

▪ Use of admission/ discharge protocol for rapid turnover

● Floating: If yes, where?

o All adult med surg / telemetry units in house

● Orientation (facility and unit) :

o 1 day orientation with work on educational modules

o 2 days departmental

● Scheduling:

o Weekend rotation: 5-6 weekend shifts out of 12 (on a 6-week schedule)

o On call? If so, what is that schedule? No call

o Holiday Expectations: work one shift of each major holiday (Thanksgiving Day or day after + 12/24 or 12/25 + 12/31 or 1/1

o RTO Requests: Manager approval

o Shift times: 7A-7P or 7P-7A

o Schedule cycle: every 6 weeks

● Other notes:

o Scrub Color: RN- Navy; LPN- Ceil Blue

o Parking: Free? Have free parking around campus or can pay to park in parking decks

o Unit Culture: busy but work as team