How to Become a Progressive Care Unit (PCU) Nurse: Salary, Job Duties, Benefits & Tips

Looking for a nursing job that challenges your skills, offers a high salary, and also gives you travel opportunities? Welcome to the world of PCU (Progressive Care Unit) nursing- where every shift keeps you on your toes. Progressive care unit nursing (PCU) bridges the gap between med-surg nursing and ICU nursing. In this blog, we will discover how to become a PCU nurse, salary, job duties, benefits, and of course, which cities pay you the highest!

Before you type the best PCU nurse jobs near me, complete your SkillGigs profile and get matched to high-paying travel nursing jobs and directly connect with employers without a middleman taking your cut. So don’t wait! Sign up now!

What is PCU nurse?

The word PCU in a hospital means Progressive Care Unit, and PCU nurses provide care for the patients who are not too serious, like ICU patients, but need more care than general medical floor patients. PCU nurses are also known as step-down nurses or Intermediate care nurses. common types of patients that are found in the PCU floor are as follows:

• Patients recovering from major surgery, such as heart, trauma, or neurosurgery.
• The PCU floor also has patients who have respiratory issues.
• Patients who need continuous monitoring and special medication,s but are not as serious as critical care unit patients.

How to become PCU nurse?

If you have decided to become PCU nurse, then here is the step-by-step guide on how to become PCU nurse:

1. Get a nursing degree: First, earn your nursing degree. ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) of 2years or BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) of 4 years.
2. Get your nursing license: Pass the NCLEX-RN exam to get a nursing license so you can legally work in the US.
3. Get experience: Get experience in Med Surg floor or telemetry before applying for PCU nursing jobs.
4. Certification: To get high-paying jobs in PCU nursing, it is recommended to get the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) certification.
5. Apply for jobs near me: Apply for PCU jobs or Step-down jobs in nearby hospitals to gain experience. This experience will help you advance your PCU travel nursing career.
6. Become a travel nurse with SkillGigs: If you are interested in becoming a travel PCU nurse, then you need 1 to 2 years of experience. You can join SkillGigs for high-paying jobs that pay up to $4000 per week.
7. Compact state nursing license: If you want to work as PCU travel nurse, apply for NCL (Nurse Licensure Compact). It is a multistate nursing license that will help you work in multiple compact states with just one license without applying for multiple licenses, saving you both time and money.

PCU nurse job description

If you want to become a step-down nurse, then here is the description of PCU nurse duties and responsibilities.

• Monitoring vital signs, oxygen levels, administering IV, pain medications, etc.
• Operating medical equipment such as ventilators and cardiac monitors.
• If PCU RN sees sudden changes in patients’ health, then they must act quickly.
• Documenting care in the EHR system.
• Educating patients and families about treatment plans and medications.

What are the benefits of becoming a progressive care unit nurse?

• If you see your future in ICU nursing, then PCU nursing is a great stepping stone to ICU or critical care.
• Progressive care unit nurses have strong job demand around the US with high salaries and job stability.
• Travel PCU nurses can get excellent pay, flexibility, and per diem roles.
• With SkillGigs, travel nurses can make up to $4000 per week and get a sign-on bonus of $500 once they sign a contract.

What is PCU nurse salary in 2025?

PCU nurse salary varies according to job type (per diem, part-time, permanent nurse staff or travel nurse), location, experience etc. The PCU nurse’s pay is higher when the demand is high, especially during emergencies. Here is the list to understand the PCU nurse salary.

• The average staff PCU nurse salary is: $78,713 per year
• The average travel PCU nurse salary in the US is: In June 2025, it is $60.11 per hour
• The average salary of a per diem PCU RN in the US is: $42/ hour

What are the highest paying states for PCU RN in the US?

Here is the list of top-paying states for step-down (intermediate) nurses:

• Washington: Salary is $136,289 per year or $65.52 per day.
• District of Columbia: Salary is $135,980 per year or $65.38 per day.
• New York: Salary is $131,649 per year or $63.29 per day.
• Massachusetts: Salary is $131,419 per year or $63.18 per day.
• Alaska: Salary is $129,592 per year or $62.30 per day.

How do I get started as Travel PCU nurse?

Here are some steps to becoming a travel progressive care unit nurse (step-down nurse/ intermediate nurse).

• Get your nursing degree, pass the NCLEX-RN examination, and get certifications like PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse). This certification will boost your resume, and you can get high-paying travel nursing jobs.
• Every nurse looks for a travel nursing agency, so the recruiters can match them to jobs that are tailored for them, but do you know that these recruiters take their cut too? Then how can you make more money as a travel nurse?
• Sign up with SkillGigs and make your 3D resume. Get matched to the high-paying jobs and directly talk to the employers. No middleman drama, you can bid on jobs and set your own pay rate. Also, get a $500 bonus once you sign your contract with SkillGigs.
• Once you find an assignment, review it carefully and ensure facility duties align with your skill set. Also, review your pay rate, stipends, benefits, shifts, location etc, before signing a contract.
• Execute your assignments and build a reputation for future contracts with SkillGigs.

Conclusion

Becoming PCU (Progressive Care Unit) nurse is more than just a career; with the right education, certification, and experience, you can become a successful step-down nurse. The demand for PCU nurses is high across the US. Whether you want to work as a staff PCU nurse, per diem nurse, or PCU travel nurse, some states offer the highest salaries.

If you are already a PCU nurse with 1 to 2 years of experience and want to take your career to the next level, then sign up with SkillGigs, complete your profile, and get matched to the highest-paying travel nursing jobs in the US. Talk to the employers directly and set your own pay rate; you can bid on the jobs you want and even earn a Sign-on bonus with Skill Gigs. Turn your PCU nursing skills into a high-paying career. Start traveling nursing with SkillGigs.