Stepdown RN

Job Description

Job Description

We are hiring Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Stepdown Registered Nurse (RN) in Miami, Florida for our client.

Position Summary

The Progressive Care Stepdown Registered Nurse (RN) provides comprehensive, patient-centered nursing care to adult patients requiring a higher level of monitoring than a medical-surgical unit but who no longer require intensive care. The RN utilizes the nursing process, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized care while promoting patient safety, quality outcomes, and compassionate service. Miami healthcare systems commonly expect experience with telemetry, cardiac monitoring, and management of complex medical and surgical patients.

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and ongoing reassessments.
• Monitor and interpret continuous cardiac telemetry and recognize changes requiring immediate intervention.
• Administer medications, IV therapies, blood products, and treatments according to physician orders.
• Care for patients with cardiac, respiratory, neurological, renal, and post-operative conditions requiring intermediate-level monitoring.
• Manage patients receiving:
• Cardiac drips (within hospital protocol)
• High-flow oxygen therapy
• BiPAP/CPAP
• Chest tubes
• Tracheostomies
• Feeding tubes
• Central venous catheters
• Recognize early signs of patient deterioration and initiate rapid response or emergency interventions.
• Collaborate with physicians, respiratory therapists, case managers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
• Develop, implement, and revise individualized nursing care plans.
• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, medications, treatments, discharge instructions, and disease management.
• Accurately document assessments, interventions, medications, and patient outcomes in the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Ensure compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, state, and organizational standards.
• Maintain infection prevention and patient safety practices.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and unit-based committees.
• Serve as a mentor or preceptor for new nurses and nursing students as assigned.

Typical Patient Population

• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Myocardial Infarction (Post-PCI)
• COPD Exacerbations
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis (stable)
• Stroke/TIA
• Post-surgical cardiovascular and thoracic patients
• Renal failure
• Diabetes complications
• Patients transitioning from ICU

Required Qualifications

• Active Florida Registered Nurse (RN) License
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; BSN preferred
• Current BLS Certification (American Heart Association)
• Current ACLS Certification
• Minimum 1 year of acute care experience preferred
• Stepdown, PCU, IMCU, Telemetry, or ICU experience preferred

Preferred Certifications

• Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• Basic Dysrhythmia Interpretation
• Telemetry Certification

Required Skills

• Cardiac rhythm interpretation
• Advanced patient assessment
• Critical thinking and clinical judgment
• IV therapy and medication administration
• Time management and prioritization
• Excellent communication and teamwork
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) proficiency
• Compassionate patient-centered care

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Lift, transfer, and reposition patients safely.
• Respond rapidly to emergency situations.
• Frequently bend, reach, push, pull, and move equipment.
• Ability to work 12-hour shifts, weekends, holidays, and rotating schedules.

Common Equipment Used

• Cardiac telemetry monitors
• IV infusion pumps
• PCA pumps
• Defibrillators
• ECG machines
• Ventilators (stable/non-ICU patients)
• Pulse oximetry and capnography
• EMR documentation systems

Typical Miami Employer Requirements

Many Miami hospitals, including major academic and regional health systems, require:

• Active Florida RN license
• BLS and ACLS certifications
• Associate degree (BSN preferred or required within a specified timeframe)
• Prior experience in Stepdown, Progressive Care (PCU), Intermediate Care (IMCU), or Telemetry units
• Strong competency in assessment, critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

 Department: Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) / Stepdown Unit

Employment Type: Full-Time