Progressive Care Unit Nurse

Remote

💊 Health

Progressive care unit nurses are a key part of the care team in hospitals’ progressive care or step-down care units. After patients finish their treatment in various specialty units elsewhere, such as the cardiac unit, they’re often transferred into progressive care for recovery and health monitoring. The role of a progressive care nurse is to monitor and report on patients’ conditions and progress, respond to emergencies and assist hospital physicians in treating people who may soon be released from hospital inpatient care. A progressive care unit’s nurses have duties that change from day to day, and even by the minute. Much of the work they do centers on assessing and tracking changes in patients’ conditions and reporting this information to the doctor heading the treatment team. They also frequently change dressings, provide wound care and perform minor bedside procedures, such as IV or catheterization.

What does a Progressive Care Unit Nurse do?

Progressive care unit nurses work in the step-down phase of hospital care, where patients are transferred from other units for monitoring before release. Nurses who work in this field have to be diligent and observant, with the ability to quickly spot changes in their patients’ condition and act appropriately.

Responsibilities

A Progressive Care Unit Nurse should be able to fulfill various duties and responsibilities. The following are some duties and responsibilities a Progressive Care Unit Nurse should be able to execute:

Continuous evaluation and monitoring of patients for signs of recovery or worsening of their condition
Changing dressings, starting IV lines and inserting catheters
Preparing medical equipment and maintaining supplies to be ready for immediate use
Administering medication as directed by a physician or within the nurses’ own schedule of drugs
Accurately reporting on patients’ progress to the other members of the care team, as well as to families and medical decision-makers
Assisting doctors with monitoring and with bedside procedures performed in the progressive care unit

Required Skills

A competitive Progressive Care Unit Nurse will have certain skills and qualifications, including:

Current nursing certification from the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
Training in emergency response, disease control and the specific procedures they are likely to assist with
Progressive Care Nursing (PCCN) certification
A high degree of organizational and time-management skills
The ability to work overtime, stand for long periods, lift moderate weight and adjust to demanding situations as they emerge

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