Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Step-Down Nurse

Who you'd be caring for

Patients too complex for med-surg but not requiring full intensive care — titratable drips, close cardiac monitoring.

What the shift actually looks like

Three or four patients who are too complex for the floor and not sick enough for ICU. Titratable drips, close monitoring, and frequent ICU transfers in both directions. Scope varies more between facilities than almost any other unit.

What you need to hold

Typically required

BLS, ACLS; PCCN valued

Typical ratio

Typically 1:3 to 1:4

What to ask before you accept

Exactly which drips the unit titrates, whether it takes vents, and how ICU overflow is handled.

We put those questions to the facility at intake so you get a straight answer before you commit, not after your first shift.

Why this role is in demand

Step-down scope varies enormously between facilities. Two PCUs in the same city can be effectively ICU and effectively med-surg. Describe the drips. For you, that is leverage — the narrower the skill set, the smaller the pool you are competing against and the better the assignments you get offered.

Travel, per diem or permanent?

Travel pays the most and moves you every 8–26 weeks. Local contract gets you contract rates without relocating. Per diem lets you pick up shifts around your own schedule. Permanent when you want to settle, build seniority and stop packing.

Working with us

We tell you the rate, the unit and the shift pattern before you commit, and we ask permission before every single submittal — you will never find out you were put forward somewhere after the fact. One recruiter handles you from the first call through to your last shift.

Placement is always free to you. Our fee is paid by the facility. Join the network and we will only call you when something genuinely fits.