Registered Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care (Step-Down)

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 Experience: 1+ year Cardiac Tele experience or PCU experience

o First-time travelers welcome

● 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 Unit secretary/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:

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.