RN - PCU

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina 28207 | Duration: 13 weeks | Shift: 12-hour Night Shift (7p–7a) | 36 hours per week

About the Facility

• 207 licensed beds
• No Trauma Designation
• Not a Teaching Hospital
• Chest Pain Center
• Stroke Center
• Traveler’s permanent address must be 50+ miles from the home unit

Unit Information

• 20-bed unit: 10 MedSurg and 10 Progressive Care
• Minimum 18 months of PCU experience required (Resource Team requirement)
• First-time travelers considered but not preferred
• Common diagnoses: Heart Failure, Chest Pain, r/o Stroke, Sepsis, Renal Failure, Respiratory Failure, DKA, interventional patients with titratable drips
• Patient ratios: MedSurg 1:5–6; PCU 1:3–4

Responsibilities

• Provide Progressive Care Unit (PCU) nursing care
• Interpret cardiac rhythms
• Manage stroke patients (NIHSS required)
• Perform trach care, PIV starts, chest tube management
• Place and manage NGTs, drains/tubes (Dobhoff, PEG, Hemovac, JP, flexiseals), and foley catheters
• Operate PCA pumps
• Titrate medication drips: cardiac drips, Heparin, Insulin, blood products, IV fluids

Requirements

• Active RN license in North Carolina
• BLS and ACLS certifications
• NIHSS certification (Resource Team requirement)
• 18+ months of PCU experience

Support & Resources

• CNA support
• Receptionist/HUC
• Charge nurse (may or may not have patient assignment)
• Phlebotomy for peripheral blood draws
• IV/VAT Team (11a–7p, 11p–7a)
• Resource Nurse (as staffing allows)
• RT available 24/7
• Hospitalist on-site 24/7
• Intensivist in-house until 11p M–F, 7p Sat/Sun; VCC coverage and on-call Intensivist thereafter

Technology & Equipment

• EMR: Epic
• IV Pump: Alaris
• Medication dispensing: Omnicell
• Monitors: Phillips

Floating Requirements

• Must float within Region 1: Cabarrus, University City, Stanly, Lake Norman, Central Division (CMC Main, Mercy, LCH – peds only)
• May be required to float to any facility in the region based on need
• If floating mid-shift, travel time between facilities is paid

Schedule & Expectations

• Weekend rotation: every other weekend
• No on-call or callback requirements
• Holiday expectation: work 75% of holidays
• Request time off: up to 6 days approved (excluding holidays); must extend contract if hours are missed
• Schedule cycle: every 6 weeks
• Scrub color: Navy
• Free parking
• Unit culture emphasizes teamwork

Orientation

• New Employee Orientation (NEO): 1 day
• Departmental orientation: 2 days

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement options