A PCU nurse, or Progressive Care Unit nurse, is a registered nurse who specializes in caring for acutely ill patients who require continuous cardiac monitoring and frequent interventions to maintain their stability. The patients in a PCU are generally not sick enough to be in the intensive care unit (ICU), but they are not yet stable enough to be transferred to a regular medical-surgical unit.

• PCU nurses are trained to manage complex patient conditions such as heart failure, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory distress. They closely monitor patients’ vital signs, administer medications and treatments, manage ventilators, and provide emotional support to patients and their families.
• To become a PCU nurse, one must first become a registered nurse (RN) by completing an accredited nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. After gaining experience in a general medical-surgical setting, one can then specialize in PCU nursing by completing additional training and certification programs, such as the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) exam offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
• PCU nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient clinics. They typically work 12-hour shifts and may be required to work weekends, holidays, and night shifts. Salaries for PCU nurses vary based on experience, location, and employer, but according to PayScale, the average hourly wage for a PCU nurse is $30.75.