PCU / Stepdown

Medical-Surgical / Progressive Care Unit — Travel RN | Night Shift | Des Moines, IA

13-Week Contract | Nights | 4x12 or 3x12 hrs

This PCU/Med-Surg opportunity in Des Moines, IA places you on a unit managing a diverse, high-acuity patient population including post-TNK, orthopedic, cranio-neurosurgery, laminectomy, and polytrauma patients. Float coverage across multiple campuses is required.

Shift & Schedule

• Nights, with flexibility for either 4x12 (48 hrs/week) or 3x12 shifts
• No on-call required
• Weekend rotation: typically every other or every third weekend, including holiday rotation
• Holiday work required (1–2 winter holidays) unless the unit is closed

Clinical Scope

• Drips and titrations: heparin infusions, PCAs, and 3% sodium
• Equipment: telemetry monitoring, chest tubes, lift equipment, and high-flow respiratory support

Required Qualifications

• 24 months of Stepdown, Progressive Care, or Med-Surg experience in a hospital setting
• Neuro/neurology care experience
• Ortho/orthopedic care experience
• Trauma care experience (highly preferred)
• Prior travel nursing experience (at least one completed contract within the past 12 months)
• Active Iowa RN license or compact/multistate license at time of submission
• BLS (AHA or ARC) — current and active
• NIHSS certification (may be obtained during onboarding)

Preferred

• ACLS certification
• Experience administering 3% sodium
• ACLS

Additional Notes

• Candidates must reside at least 50 miles from the facility
• Skills checklist must reflect Medical-Surgical or Medical-Surgical/Telemetry discipline