Are you ready to be a total badass in the Progressive Care Unit? As a new nurse, it's easy to feel like you're in over your head. But there's no need to panic—we've got you covered.
We know how hard it is to get started in a new unit and to learn the latest procedures there. But don't worry.
In this article, we'll give you everything from an overview of PCU nursing to a breakdown of the equipment you'll use on the job.
We'll tell you about standard procedures performed in the PCU setting, as well as some tips for caring for patients who have special needs or who are experiencing complications during their stay at the hospital.
What is a Progressive Care Unit (PCU)?
A progressive care unit (PCU) is a hospital ward that provides intensive medical care to patients whose condition is not considered life-threatening.
As per the study, PCU is often used to bridge the gap between ICU and medical-surgical units.
Patients in a PCU usually recover from surgery or have other acute medical conditions requiring close monitoring and treatment.
Typically, PCUs have more than one nurse per patient, as well as ancillary staff such as physical therapists and social workers. The size of a PCU varies according to the number of beds available for patients.
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The goal of a progressive care unit is to ensure that patients receive the best possible quality of care at all times by providing 24/7 monitoring and treatment for their specific needs. It also helps keep costs down by reducing unnecessary transfers between departments and wards within the hospital.
Who Works On a PCU Floor?
People who work on a PCU floor are called PCU nurses. A PCU nurse is a registered nurse who has been trained in the specific skills needed to care for patients on a PCU floor.
In addition to PCU nurses, many other healthcare professionals work on a PCU floor, including:
- PCU physician — an MD or DO who provides direct patient care in the form of diagnosis and treatment.
- PCU nurse practitioner — an APRN who has completed additional education in order to become a nurse practitioner and provide an expanded scope of practice.
- Pharmacist — a licensed pharmacist who provides medication-related services and counsels patients on the use of their medications.
- Phlebotomist — a licensed phlebotomist who draws blood samples from patients.
- Physical therapists — Physical therapists work with patients who need help recovering from surgery or injuries; they use various techniques (including stretching and massage) to help improve mobility and relieve pain caused by injuries or illness.
What is the Difference Between PCU and Med Surg?
The main difference between the two types of units, Med Surg and Progressive Care, is that Progressive Care patients are more ill than Med Surg patients.
The main focus of nursing care in a progressive care unit is to help patients get better, while the main focus in a med-Surg unit is to keep people healthy. This means there will be fewer procedures done in a progressive care unit than in a Med-Surg unit.
In a progressive care unit, nurses tend to work with fewer patients at one time. For example, instead of having six patients on your floor at once, you might have only two or three patients in your charge at any given time. This allows more time for each patient's needs and helps prevent burnout among nurses, who might otherwise feel overworked if they were responsible for more patients than this.
Progressive care units tend to have fewer visitors coming through them because these units deal with more severe health issues than Med-Surg units do. However, family members are still allowed to visit their loved ones whenever possible.
How Long Do Patients Stay in PCU?
The average length of stay for patients admitted to progressive care is about three days, according to an article published in the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care. However, this can vary depending on factors like age and severity of illness.
For example, older patients tend to stay longer than younger ones because they often have more complex illnesses, such as pneumonia or heart failure.
Children may also spend more time in progressive care because they have immature immune systems that make them less able to fight off infections easily than adults.
What are the Progressive Care Unit Nurse Responsibilities?
Progressive care nurses are responsible for providing medical care to patients who have been discharged from an intensive care unit but who require ongoing monitoring and specialized medical treatment. They also provide information to families about their loved one's health conditions.
In addition to these responsibilities, progressive care nurses may also:
- Monitor and adjust ventilator settings on breathing tubes or oxygen levels in order to keep patients comfortable and safe.
- Provide physical therapy to patients whose muscles have atrophied due to immobility during hospitalization.
- Administer medications.
- Ensure that daily nursing tasks such as changing bandages or administering injections are completed on schedule.
- Work with therapists to design exercise programs for patients so they can regain strength after surgery or illness.
PCU Nurse Salary
The average annual salary for a PCU nurse is $63,000 which translates to $29 per hour on average. If you consider yourself as an experienced and qualified professional with more than five years' experience in this field, you can earn up to $80,000 per year.
Progressive Care Unit Competencies
Progressive care nurses are expected to have a broad understanding of the following competencies:
- Adaptation to change — Adapting behavior and thinking quickly in response to changes in the work environment or requirements or unexpected situations such as emergencies and unanticipated work demands.
- Critical thinking — Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Documentation — Developing policies, procedures, and systems for recording information about nursing activities, including patient information and nursing processes; recording results; maintaining medical records; filing reports; keeping logs; completing forms; providing the requested information.
- Leadership — The progressive care unit (PCU) leader must be able to motivate, lead, and direct individuals or groups toward achieving goals that benefit the patient population in the unit. The PCU leader also must have the ability to encourage unity among staff members who may have conflicting interests.
What Are The Requirements to Work on a PCU Floor?
The first thing to know is that you'll need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. You may also be required to take a test, such as the NCLEX-RN. If you're applying for a position that requires certain certifications, such as an EMT certification or paramedic certification, you'll need to make sure that you have these qualifications before you start looking for jobs.
Once you have all of your paperwork in order, you can start searching for jobs and applying. The best way to do this is by using a recruiting service like Indeed or Monster. You can also use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to find out about local openings in your area.
If there aren't any positions available at local hospitals or medical facilities, then look into other options, such as traveling nurses. These types of positions allow nurses to travel around the country and work at different facilities on short-term contracts.
Is PCU considered Critical Care?
PCU is commonly considered to be a post-critical care setting. If you are looking to gain experience in critical care, this is not the place.
The main reason for this is that there is no ICU in the PCU. If you're able to get your foot in the door and work as an intern, then you will eventually get some critical care exposure. However, it's not going to be all that much compared to if you were working in the ICU directly.
Also, the patients that are seen in PCU tend to have more stable conditions than those who are admitted into the ICU directly from their room. There are exceptions, of course, but generally speaking, this is true. So there isn't as much need for rapid response or quick intervention with these patients (and therefore less opportunity for learning).
Closing Thoughts!
The Progressive Care Unit is a place where you can find a wide range of patients, from those who are recovering from surgery to those with chronic conditions. The PCU also serves as a transitional space between the ICU and Step Down Unit.
The PCU is a critical component of any hospital's healthcare structure. It allows for a more gradual transition between inpatient care and outpatient care, and it provides patients with the opportunity to get used to being away from their home environment before they go back home completely on their own.
