Job interview- progressive care unit

nminodob · Aug 11, 2010

First, good luck on your interview! I work in Progressive Care and I'm not sure if our unit is typical of all units that go by that name or not, but I will tell you about how it is with us:

We are in the pipeline to get ED (emergency dept.) pts that are too sick for the regular medsurg units, but are not on pressor support. At times when there are no ICU beds available, we provide a bed for the most stable of the unstable pts. We typically see pts with insulin drips for DKA, lasix drips for CHF exacerbation, ativan drips for ETOH w/d. Because we are a neuro and a tele unit, our pts are on frequent neuro checks as well as telemetry monitoring.

We are also in the pipeline for ICU pt overflow, and sometimes our pts come to us from the unit with CVP monitoring and art lines. These are more rare and we try to remove these lines when the pts become more stable. Many of our pts have PICC lines or other central lines. We also do a lot of lab draws, and your phlebotomy skills will definitely get sharper!

When a pt on a regular med-surg floor desaturates and has increased O2 requirements, has new-onset arrhythmias, or needs 2 hour checks for anything whatsoever, they come to us. Before we can get a transfer, the MD or team has to justify why the pt needs a higher level of care, which is what we provide. However, we do not do hourly checks, except if the pt is on an epidural whose rate is being titrated, or something unusual like that. Hourly checking is more ICU level of care at our facility.

Because we get pts on the mend from the ICU, and also those decompensating and heading the other direction, our unit sees a lot of movement. The pt load a nurse has one day is very likely changed when s/he returns to work the next day. To work on this type of unit you have to be somewhat addicted to daily changes and think fast on your feet. We typically have residents/NPs writing orders throughout our shifts, and require the support of respiratory personnel because we have continuous nebs, CPAP, Bipap, etc. You will get to know all the players very well after you work a while.

I don't know if you are a seasoned nurse or a newbie - we hire both on our unit. If you are new to all of this, don't be scared because you will learn everything you need to know from the great nurses you work with! If you're an experienced nurse, you will get a chance to show your stuff on a Progressive Care Unit - and you will certainly find it rewarding, I know I do!

KatieDenison · May 29, 2014

I have a phone interview for pcu float next week. I have worked tele/cardio and have worked with some pcu/neuro PTs. Any pointers on the interview questions?