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Discussion

Does this type of unit exist anywhere else?

The type of unit I am employed at currently is called 'intermediate critical care' and I am having issues with the definite job description of my unit. We are not PCU, our patients are a higher acuity then the average PCU patient, yet we are not classified as an ICU either.

I am just shy of over a years of experience as an RN and considering both PRN in addition to my full-time job and also the future of my career. Traveling is something I've always been interested in but I realize now as I search for local PRN positions the companies are confused with exactly what my experience entails and where I can be safely placed.

So I am curious if this type of unit exists in other hospitals or if I were to stay in my current position and attempt to travel, would I be placed into a PCU unit?

On my unit our ratio is 3:1, we have patients on ventilators / tracheostomies, we do pretty much all drips except vasopressors. A lot of the time we get ICU patients who are not yet ready for 'the floor' but not exactly requiring an ICU bed. We also get the higher level of care transfers who could potentially require ICU, but not yet, and are way too high in acuity to be on a PCU.

My other alternative, and most likely the option I will end up with, is to get one more year of experience on my unit and then transfer to an ICU before I attempt to travel. I am, however, just trying to see my options.

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    Sure, IMC or stepdown among other names. You are certainly qualified for PCU or lower, and step down. Not sure how many step down assignments are out there but it would only be a larger hospitals.

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    Yeah they would classify you as a Step Down Nurse. Usually I see listings for ICU/SDU nurses or PCU/Telemetry nurses. Most hospitals want the traveler to be able to float easily to a lesser acuity level if needed. I travel ICU but when they need help on the SDU they will pull me. If they hire you for the SDU they will pull you to PCU or Telemetry floors to fill in. I don't see too many SDU travel jobs when I look but I'm sure you can find a good fit. I think your only problem is not having a good solid 2 years experience yet. It's rare to find a hospital that will take a one year experience nurse, especially in high acuity areas like ICU's and SDU's.

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    Travel nursing agencies have ICU skills checklists that include every vasoactive and inoptropic gtt, equipment such as ultrafiltration, CRRT, Balloon pumps, ecmo, ventilators, temp pacers, Ekos catheters, LVADS, venticulostomies, PA catheters and a thousand other pieces of equipment. Take a look at these skills lists for telemetry and ICU. You might be just what the small community hospital needs, the tertiary care centers require Level 1 experience.

    The more you can check very experienced to these items and the more certs you have, the more you will be a desirable candidate. Some hospitals receive hundreds of profiles for one travel nurse position, so you want them to know that you have the skillls and can show up be given access codes and get to work.

    Start a portfolio. Get your CCRN. Epic experience and familiarity with other EMRs is also very desirable.

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    At my hospital it is called IMC (intermediate care). The ratios are 3-4:1.

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