this new grad needs job advice!

Perpetual Student · Jan 16, 2012

Progressive care unit: Generally pretty sick patients who don't meet the criteria for ICU. Also might receive med/surg overflow. From what I hear it can be a pretty challenging place to work, with a lot of opportunity for learning. I'll let someone with more experience in this setting give you a better idea of the details.

The exact nature of a short stay position will vary depending upon the particular facility. I do have experience with this type of unit as I float to one sometimes, and also had experience as a student at other places. You will likely admit patients who're having outpatient procedures and surgeries, prepare them for their cases, monitor them afterward, and prepare them for discharge. You might also admit patients who're having scheduled inpatient surgeries. Types of procedural patients might include GI endoscopy patients, cath lab patients (e.g. an angiogram), and IR patients (e.g. a port placement or liver biopsy). Some places also use this type of unit for outpatient observation status patients. In some places this can be a great job. It's likely to be day shift weekdays only, no holidays, no call which appeals to many. The paperwork (or computer work) can be a bear, and the work can be kind of routine and boring at times. There is always potential for the manure to hit the fan, however, so it's important that you keep your head in the game and do a good job as a short stay nurse. You'll develop awesome IV skills if you stick at it a while.