Progressive Care Unit (PCU) nurses work in hospital and skilled rehab settings. The Progressive Care Unit is an intermediate unit between the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and med-surg units. It is also called a "step-down unit." Patients are not as acutely ill as those in the ICU, but are also not stable enough to be in a med-surg unit with a higher nurse-patient ratio. Job descriptions for PCU nurses note excellent critical thinking skills, prior emergency or critical care experience, and assessment skills. Are you an experienced PCU Nurse? Explore and apply for high-paying travel nurse jobs today.
Responsibilities of a PCU nurse include maintaining ventilators, administering treatments and medications, collaborating with members of the healthcare team, and communicating with patients and their families. Registered Nurses who specialize in progressive care will need BLS and ACLS certifications. Progressive Care Unit nurses usually have between 3 and 4 patients; this ratio may vary depending on the facility. The annual salary in the United States for a PCU Nurse is $88,000. Salaries may be higher if a nurse has additional education or PCU certifications.