Registered Nurse - PCU

Bestica•Kansas City, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Registered Nurse providing care in a Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at a tertiary care hospital. The typical nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:4; on rare occasions it may increase to 1:6, and travelers are expected to take the additional patients. The unit cares for pulmonary stepdown and intermediate-care patients, including high-acuity pulmonary patients, patients with COPD, ventilated tracheostomy patients, and patients receiving Airvo, BiPAP, CPAP, respiratory treatments, or pulmonary valve placement. Special procedures include endobronchial valves and ventilators. The role requires strong ventilator experience and the ability to provide care across medical-surgical/telemetry and cardiac telemetry settings. The nurse may float regularly between departments, units, and facilities as needed. The schedule requires eight weekend shifts in each Saint Luke’s six-week schedule period, in a combination of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shifts. Block scheduling is not accommodated. The facility is a 456-staffed-bed, teaching, Level 1 Trauma hospital and five-time Magnet winner. Scrubs are navy, charting is in Epic, and parking is free.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience.
Strong ventilator experience.
Required certifications: BLD and NIHSS.
Must be able to take additional patients when the ratio rarely flexes to 1:6.
Must be available for eight weekend shifts in each six-week schedule period.
Must live at least 75 miles from the facility; local candidates within the stated radius are not accepted.
Pending licenses are not accepted.
Time-off requests are restricted to no more than 7 days.

Responsibilities

Provide PCU care at a typical nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4, with occasional ratios of 1:6.
Care for pulmonary stepdown and intermediate-care patients, including ventilated tracheostomy patients and high-acuity pulmonary patients.
Monitor cardiac telemetry and interpret and manage dysrhythmias; respond to emergencies.
Provide feeding tube care and management.
Manage patients with renal failure and provide pre- and post-hemodialysis care.
Provide IV therapy, including accessing ports, administering blood products, managing central, peripheral, and PICC lines, and starting IVs.
Manage heparin protocols, PCA, and cardiac drips, including titration where required.
Care for patients with CVA and traumatic brain injury.
Care for ventilated patients and manage chest tubes, external CPAP/BiPAP, HFNC, oxygen delivery devices, non-invasive airways, and tracheostomies; interpret ABGs.
Follow isolation precautions.
Float between departments, units, and facilities as needed.
Work eight weekend shifts per six-week schedule period, in a combination of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.