It is helpful to learn more about what a PCU is and why it exists to gain a better understanding of whether or not working as a traveler on a progressive care unit is the right path for you. Knowing what types of patients you might see in the unit, why it exists, and what your day-to-day experience working as a traveler on a PCU might be like. You could visit this website for more information about PCU travel nurse jobs and salaries and learn more about how to get paid as a PCU travel nurse and what other challenges you may or may not face in this type of PCU travel nurse career in 2021.
Responsibilities of PCU Nurses
There are so many different types of patients who enter the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) and it could be difficult to provide a full picture of what you might expect when you are working in the PCU war because each of the patients has their own unique needs.
Patients who are admitted to the PCU would be requiring a higher degree of nursing care and constant surveillance when you compare it with the general wars, but they also do not require critical care nursing.
Here are a few of the competencies that are required for progressive care nurses:
- Advanced wound management
- Caring for patients suffering from strokes, seizures, or intracranial hemorrhage
- Assisting with tube insertion and managing patients with chest tubes
- Administration of sedatives
- Administration and management of invasive arterial pressure monitoring equipment
- Evaluation of the need for families to have enhanced involvement in home care
- Administration and management of noninvasive hemodynamic pressure monitoring
- Caring for patients experiencing behavioral emergencies
- An understanding of drug dosage calculation and the administration of medication
- Caring for patients with renal interventions, such as hemodialysis or continuous bladder irrigation.
PCU Travel Nursing Jobs and Their Salary
The average salary of a Progressive Care Unit nurse depends on the years of experience you have, type of clinical setting, and the location of the PCU nurse but according to Glassdoor.com, the average yearly salary that you could have is approximately $67,000.
According to the data from November 2019, registered nurses with step-down unit experience can expect to earn an average annual salary of $63,000 with a thousand dollar bonus. That works out to an average hourly rate of $28.80, and you might also expect to get about $23 per house on the lower end.
If you are looking for ways to up your paycheck, certifications could also make a difference. If you are a Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN), then you could earn an average salary of $77,000. You should consider a career as a PCU travel nurse to earn even more compensation.
Life of a PCU Nurse
The patients who are admitted to the PCY ware are oftentimes still very sick and require complex medical care since the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is the unit that much Progressive Care Unit (PCU) patterned transfer from. They are going to need a high level of care from a PCU nurse even though they are not in critical conditions. If you are calm under pressure, have a wealth of clinical knowledge, and are calm under pressure, PCU nursing could be a great career for you.
- Detect any changes to vital signs
- Interact with a healthcare team including physicians, therapists, and other nurses
- Monitor cardiac and other critical vital signs
- Give medication
How to Become a PCU Travel Nurse
When you are interested in becoming a Progressive Care Unit travel nurse, all RNs must have a completed degree from an accredited nursing program and at least one year of work experience in a clinical setting. If you already have all of these minimum requirements as a PCU nurse then you are ready to take the plunge into this type of career work.
The best way to get all of your questions answered and prepare you for a travel nursing assignment is to connect with a progressive care unit recruiter and other nurses who are in the same field as well.
You know how difficult it can be to connect if you have ever tried to get your resume in front of a hiring manager and there has never been a better time to seize the moment and take advantage of what the recruiter or agency has to offer. Specializing in PCU nursing can be a great way to get started if you are interested in working as a traveler.
