PCU Nurse Resume Writing Tips and Sample

If you’re shopping around for a new job in progressive care, you’ll want to update your PCU nurse resume. This document is your first impression with hiring managers, so you can make it count by concisely listing your skills, experience, and education. Use our progressive and step-down nurse resume example to guide your application.

It’s tempting to get caught up in fancy layouts and formatting, but the goal of your resume is to accurately and quickly communicate why your background makes you a good fit for the role. While your cover letter gives you a platform to show a little personality, you can make a hiring manager’s life easier by being as concise as possible in your resume.

Follow these tips when writing your progressive care unit nurse resume:

• Keep it short: Depending on the role you’re applying for, managers might be looking at dozens of other resumes alongside yours. Try to stick to around one single-spaced page of necessary information.
• List specific skills: Align your experience with specific PCU nurse skills that show you’re the right fit for the role. This might include tracheostomy and ventilator management, PEG tube care, and more.
• Put your objective to use: Pull specific phrases from the job description as you write your PCU nurse resume objective.
• Highlight relevant experiences: Never worked in the PCU before? You can still emphasize nursing roles that make you qualified for step-down and progressive care. Experience in telemetry, med-surg, intensive care, respiratory care, and other acute units could help you leverage a role in the PCU.
• Quantify achievements: Managers love to see measurable impacts on care quality and outcomes. This could include the number of patients you’ve cared for in previous roles, or your participation in quality improvement initiatives.

Seeking more guidance as you write your nursing resume? See our complete nursing resume guide for more actionable tips, and check out our PCU nurse cover letter guide for more helping land the interview. And once you do, use our PCU interview questions to prepare.

PCU Nurse Resume Sample

Cory Healwell, RN, PCCN

9876 Prog Plaza
Phone: 543-789-1234
Email: chealwell@email.com

Highly experienced PCU nurse with a proven ability to monitor and manage patients with complex medical conditions. Seeking a new opportunity to work with a skilled team bringing quality care to patients in a step-down setting.

Experience

RN III — 7CD Progressive Care

Sunrise Hospital

March 20XX–present

• Providing comprehensive care to 2–3 patients per shift in a high-acuity PCU setting, managing post-surgical recovery, cardiac conditions, and respiratory support.
• Monitoring and interpreting cardiac rhythms and implementing appropriate interventions based on assessments.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient care plans, ensuring continuity of care and optimal outcomes.
• Serving as unit charge nurse, preceptor for new graduates and nursing students, and head of quality improvement team.

RN II — 2B Progressive/Telemetry

Riverfront Hospital

March 2012–February 2016

• Managed a diverse patient population in a progressive care environment, specializing in cardiac telemetry and post-procedural care.
• Administered medications, titrated IV drips, and performed complex wound care procedures.
• Utilized critical thinking and advanced assessment skills to detect and respond to changes in patient conditions promptly.
• Received consistently high patient satisfaction scores (averaging 95%) based on feedback surveys.

RN I – 6CD Cardiac Telemetry

Riverfront Hospital

April 2008–February 2012

• Monitored patients’ cardiac rhythms and vital signs in a busy telemetry unit, caring for 4–5 patients per shift.
• Provided direct patient care and collaborated with physicians to optimize treatment plans.
• Assisted with code blue responses, demonstrating proficiency in life-saving interventions.
• Precepted new staff members and nursing students, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

RN I — 4A Med Surg

Hilltop General Hospital

May 2005–April 2008

• Gained foundational nursing experience in a medical-surgical unit, caring for diverse patient populations.
• Developed strong organizational and prioritization skills in a fast-paced hospital environment.

Certifications & Memberships

Basic Life Support (BLS: License #654332)

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS: License #3421678)

Certified Progressive Care Nurse (PCCN: License #9876789)

Member, American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Skills

• Cardiac monitoring and ECG interpretation
• Tracheostomy care
• PEG site and tube feeding management
• Sterile catheter insertion, care, and management
• Diabetes management and education
• Titrating vasoactive medications
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Patient education and care coordination

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Southern California (20XX)

PCU Nurse Salary

The average PCU nurse salary is $85,671 per year. Typically, PCU nurses make between $77,459 and $93,154. Earning certifications, additional training, and continuing education could help you make more in your PCU role.

Another big factor that determines your salary is your location. Here are the states that are known for the highest compensation for nurses:

• California
• Hawaii
• Oregon
• Washington
• Alaska

Use Your PCU Nurse Resume to Land a Fresh Opportunity

If you’re looking for new roles in a step-down or prog unit, you’ve come to the right place. IntelyCare has nursing roles across the country for skilled clinicians like you. View our PCU nurse jobs to step into the next phase of your nursing career.