As a nurse in the progressive care unit, you treat patients who no longer require critical care in the ICU but who aren’t quite ready to make their way to the med-surg floor of a hospital. This is why the PCU is also known as the step down unit (SDU). A PCU is also sometimes called a telemetry unit, direct observation unit (DOUs), or transitional care unit (TCU). As a nurse, you provide intermediate care to patients in these units so they can better recover from surgeries, critical illnesses, and injuries.
If you’re in search of PCU nurse jobs, you’re in the right place. Start looking at IntelyCare today for full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, or per diem progressive care nurse jobs.
PCU Nurse Education and Skills
To work in a PCU nurse job, you’ll need to complete either an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor degree in nursing (BSN), although certain employers will prefer that you hold a BSN vs. an ADN. In addition to holding an unencumbered RN license, you may want to consider becoming a Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN).
Some PCU RN jobs will require candidates to have experience in med-surg or other acute care settings.
PCU Nurse Resume and Cover Letter
Hoping to stand out from other nurses pursuing PCU jobs? One way to do that is by customizing your nursing resume to each job posting. For instance, if the employer wants to hire a candidate who has experience working with “post cardiac surgery, valve repair, and telemetry patients,” include that phrase in your resume.
Then, in your cover letter, you may go into detail about how you excelled at caring for these patients. An employer can then see the ways your skills and training align with the job for which they’re hiring.
Interviewing for Progressive Care Nurse Jobs
A job interview is a great opportunity to show employers that you have what it takes to care for patients in transitional care. Review our nursing interview tips as a way to prepare for your moment in the spotlight. We can help you craft smart answers to tough questions, give you pointers on how to research facilities, and much more.
PCU Nurse Salary
The average annual salary for PCU RN jobs is around $90,000. Your location in the country, level of experience, facility type, and employer can impact this number. For a more accurate picture of a PCU RN salary in your area, explore the current jobs on IntelyCare.
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