149Live PCU RN Travel Jobs · August 7 700+ 5-Star Reviews

PCU Travel Nurse Jobs Nationwide

Sort open PCU contracts by location, shift, and weekly pay, then open the assignment that fits.

Pick this next
Pick this next
Set location
PCU · nationwide
149
live jobs
$2,093
avg weekly pay iMarket pay is the average weekly rate across active assignments matching your specialty and location. Each job’s pay tier compares its weekly pay to this average.
+48
new this week
Explore this market
Browse PCU jobs by state
North Carolina 18 Texas 13 Georgia 11 Ohio 11 Kentucky 9 Arizona 7 Colorado 7
Jobs here move fast. Don’t miss the next match.

Drop your number and we’ll text you the moment a matching job opens.

    149 jobs updated today
    Sort by radius

    Finding PCU Assignments

    Sitting between intensive care and a general floor, progressive care is the acuity band PCU travel nurse jobs cover: patients who are acutely ill but moderately stable, on continuous telemetry and cardiac drips, still able to slide toward instability fast. Most contracts expect rhythm competency and comfort with step-down acuity, with ACLS, since travelers learn a new unit on little orientation. Because "PCU" covers cardiac step-down, telemetry, and intermediate care that vary by hospital, it is worth confirming a unit's acuity with the recruiter before you commit. PCU openings move quickly and currently span Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina, with 149 live on Advantis. Travelers wanting rhythm work without step-down acuity can compare telemetry contracts.

    Live market data

    Reading the Current PCU Pay Range

    Updated today

    PCU weekly pay tracks acuity and shift more than anything else: cardiac step-down units with night or weekend coverage tend to pay above lighter intermediate-care assignments. The chart shows the current spread; read where an offer falls against it.

    $1,618 median $2,117 $2,853
    $2,117
    Median weekly
    $1,618–$2,853
    Typical range
    $2,853
    Top PCU Pay
    Based on 149 live Advantis PCU contracts. Weekly pay shown is marketplace contract value, not a staff-nurse wage.

    Progressive Care Is Its Own Standard

    Progressive care is a defined nursing discipline, not a vague gap between the floor and the ICU. AACN introduced the term more than 20 years ago and now backs the specialty with a published Scope and Standards and, as of 2025, its first staffing standards, which state that progressive care generally requires one nurse for every three or four patients. That structure is why the unit carries its own competency set, from continuous telemetry interpretation to cardiac-drip titration and early recognition of decline, rather than borrowing ICU or med-surg expectations. The credential that signals a traveler can work at that acuity is the PCCN, the Progressive Care Certified Nurse from AACN, which step-down units increasingly prefer alongside ACLS.

    Live market data · by state

    What PCU Markets Actually Net

    Updated today

    Step-down demand tends to climb where critical-care capacity is tight, so the table pairs each PCU market's pay with a cited read on how short local staffing runs. Sort by take-home rather than the headline rate to see which markets actually hold up after cost of living.

    Tap a green value, or an underlined heading, to see how each number is calculated.
    Filter
    Sort by
    State Open jobs Compact Median pay Income tax Market outlook
    Illinois 6 No $2,555 $1,558 4.95% flat ~27% of RNs plan to retire within 5 years IL Nursing Workforce Center
    Tennessee 3 Yes ✓ $2,438 $1,176 0% 8,500+ RN shortfall projected by 2035 TN Hospital Assn.
    Iowa 3 Yes ✓ $2,289 $1,097 3.8% flat Near balance; rural/critical-access distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kentucky 9 Yes ✓ $2,162 $1,104 3.5% flat Near balance; metro + rural Appalachian demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Arizona 16 Yes ✓ $2,299 $1,706 2.5% flat Population & retiree growth sustain metro demand BLS Occupational Outlook
    Indiana 6 Yes ✓ $2,147 $1,233 2.95% flat ~5,000 more nurses needed by 2031 (72% of need met) Indiana Hospital Assn. · IU Bowen
    Ohio 25 Yes ✓ $2,137 $1,219 2.75% flat Surplus statewide; high-acuity & rural distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Michigan 15 No $2,148 $1,309 4.25% flat 22,000+ unfilled nursing roles projected by 2030 Michigan Health Council 2024
    Pennsylvania 3 Yes ✓ $2,146 $1,473 3.07% flat ~8% RN shortfall by 2038 (~11,970 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Washington 3 Yes ✓ $2,249 $2,013 0% Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~17% by 2038 (~15,020 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New Mexico 5 Yes ✓ $2,039 $1,295 up to 5.9% (graduated) Slight RN shortage (~2% by 2038); below-avg density HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New Hampshire 3 Yes ✓ $2,201 $2,030 0% ~7% RN shortfall by 2038; aging population HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kansas 9 Yes ✓ $1,977 $1,122 up to 5.58% (graduated) Above balance; rural hospitals at closure risk HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Colorado 13 Yes ✓ $2,139 $1,839 4.4% flat ~15% RN shortfall by 2030 (~10,000 nurses) CO Center for Nursing · Mercer
    Georgia 21 Yes ✓ $1,975 $1,548 4.99% flat Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~20% by 2038 (~25,110 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    North Carolina 18 Yes ✓ $1,918 $1,373 3.99% flat ~12,500 RN shortfall by 2033 (~11%) NC Nursecast · UNC Sheps
    Texas 13 Yes ✓ $1,646 $1,517 0% 57,000+ RN shortfall by 2032 (~16%) TX DSHS 2024 · 739 hospitals
    Illinois · 6 open
    Median pay $2,555 2-BR rent $1,558 State tax 4.95% flat Compact No
    Outlook: ~27% of RNs plan to retire within 5 years IL Nursing Workforce Center
    Tennessee · 3 open
    Median pay $2,438 2-BR rent $1,176 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: 8,500+ RN shortfall projected by 2035 TN Hospital Assn.
    Iowa · 3 open
    Median pay $2,289 2-BR rent $1,097 State tax 3.8% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Near balance; rural/critical-access distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kentucky · 9 open
    Median pay $2,162 2-BR rent $1,104 State tax 3.5% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Near balance; metro + rural Appalachian demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Arizona · 16 open
    Median pay $2,299 2-BR rent $1,706 State tax 2.5% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Population & retiree growth sustain metro demand BLS Occupational Outlook
    Indiana · 6 open
    Median pay $2,147 2-BR rent $1,233 State tax 2.95% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~5,000 more nurses needed by 2031 (72% of need met) Indiana Hospital Assn. · IU Bowen
    Ohio · 25 open
    Median pay $2,137 2-BR rent $1,219 State tax 2.75% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Surplus statewide; high-acuity & rural distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Michigan · 15 open
    Median pay $2,148 2-BR rent $1,309 State tax 4.25% flat Compact No
    Outlook: 22,000+ unfilled nursing roles projected by 2030 Michigan Health Council 2024
    Pennsylvania · 3 open
    Median pay $2,146 2-BR rent $1,473 State tax 3.07% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~8% RN shortfall by 2038 (~11,970 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Washington · 3 open
    Median pay $2,249 2-BR rent $2,013 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~17% by 2038 (~15,020 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New Mexico · 5 open
    Median pay $2,039 2-BR rent $1,295 State tax up to 5.9% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Slight RN shortage (~2% by 2038); below-avg density HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New Hampshire · 3 open
    Median pay $2,201 2-BR rent $2,030 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~7% RN shortfall by 2038; aging population HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kansas · 9 open
    Median pay $1,977 2-BR rent $1,122 State tax up to 5.58% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Above balance; rural hospitals at closure risk HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Colorado · 13 open
    Median pay $2,139 2-BR rent $1,839 State tax 4.4% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~15% RN shortfall by 2030 (~10,000 nurses) CO Center for Nursing · Mercer
    Georgia · 21 open
    Median pay $1,975 2-BR rent $1,548 State tax 4.99% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~20% by 2038 (~25,110 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    North Carolina · 18 open
    Median pay $1,918 2-BR rent $1,373 State tax 3.99% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~12,500 RN shortfall by 2033 (~11%) NC Nursecast · UNC Sheps
    Texas · 13 open
    Median pay $1,646 2-BR rent $1,517 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: 57,000+ RN shortfall by 2032 (~16%) TX DSHS 2024 · 739 hospitals
    No states match those filters. Try removing one.
    Market-outlook figures cited to each state's primary source.
    Illustrative only — not take-home pay or tax advice. Travel pay often includes tax-free stipends, and no-income-tax states stretch further. Estimated value = median weekly contract pay × 4.33 weeks, minus the typical 2-BR rent. Pay & open jobs: live Advantis inventory; 2-BR rent: HUD FMR FY2026; state income tax: Tax Foundation 2026; compact: NCSBN.
    Good to know

    PCU Travel Contract FAQs for RNs

    How is a PCU different from the ICU and from telemetry or step-down?
    A progressive care unit (PCU) sits between intensive care and a general floor: patients are acutely ill but moderately stable, more monitored than med-surg yet not ICU-level. 'Telemetry,' 'step-down,' and 'intermediate care' often describe the same progressive-care work under different hospital labels, while the ICU handles the unstable, highest-acuity patients. AACN treats progressive care as its own specialty.
    Is the PCCN worth holding for step-down travel contracts?
    Often, yes. PCU contracts expect an active RN license alongside BLS and ACLS, and many prefer the PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse) from AACN, AACN's progressive-care certification built around acutely ill adult patients. Rhythm interpretation is usually expected, and some cardiac units add a dysrhythmia or stroke certification. If you're PCCN-eligible, testing between contracts is a fast credibility gain for step-down work.
    Which PCU contracts land at the top of the pay range?
    PCU weekly pay tracks acuity and shift first: cardiac step-down and heavy-monitoring units with night or weekend coverage tend to pay more than lighter intermediate-care assignments, with location and overtime layered on top. Published RN wage data marks the broad floor, and each listing carries its own current weekly rate on top of that baseline. each listing shows its own current weekly pay.
    What acuity and ratios should travelers expect?
    Acuity lands between the ICU and a general floor, so assignments are usually lighter than ICU but heavier and more monitored than med-surg. Exact ratios are set by facility policy and the unit's acuity, and 'PCU' can mean different things across systems, so confirm the unit and its staffing with the recruiter before you accept.
    Do PCU travelers do a lot of cardiac and telemetry work?
    Often. Many PCUs are cardiac step-down or monitoring units, so travelers read continuous heart rhythms, titrate cardiac drips, and act on early signs of decline. The amount of cardiac focus varies by unit, so ask the recruiter which units a contract covers. If drips and rhythms are your strength, flag it; those units shortlist monitored-care travelers first.
    What experience do PCU travel assignments expect?
    Most postings want recent step-down or cardiac monitoring experience and comfort titrating cardiac medications, since travelers take report on a new unit with little orientation. For context, the PCCN's direct-care pathway recognizes roughly 1,750 hours of acutely-ill adult care over two years, a useful benchmark for the experience these contracts assume. List your monitor systems and drip protocols on your profile; it answers the screen before it's asked.
    What do PCU travel schedules and contract lengths look like?
    PCU contracts usually run 13 weeks on 12-hour day or night rotations, and cardiac step-down units often weight toward nights for monitoring coverage. Each listing shows its shift and contract length up front, so match those to what you want before you shortlist it. Night-weighted contracts often pay a shade more for the same unit, worth weighing if your sleep schedule allows.
    Travel PCU nurse jobs in top states
    Top RN specialties
    Cities hiring PCU nurses
    PCU pay & licensing resources
    Featured PCU RN assignments