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Step Down Unit Rn Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Focus Staff

Travel Step Down Unit RN

Henderson, KY · On-site

... Unit * Discipline: RN * Start Date: 08/24/2026 * Duration: 13 weeks * 36 hours per week * Shift: 12 hours, nights * Employment Type: Travel Focus Staff is seeking a Step Down Registered Nurse for a ...

GHR Healthcare

Travel PCU RN

Greenville, NC · On-site

$2.0K - $2.1K/wk

Travel Travel PCU Registered Nurse Job - Medical Step Down Unit in Greenville, North Carolina Join a fast-paced Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Medical Step Down Unit in Greenville, NC , where you'll ...

CrossMed

Travel Step Down Unit RN

Henderson, KY · On-site

$1.7K - $2.3K/wk

DEHEHH-30958, Deaconess Henderson Hospital, Registered Nurse, Step Down Unit About CrossMed At CrossMed Healthcare Staffing, we aim to create lasting impressions wherever we go. Embark on your health ...

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Step Down Unit RN information

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$72.4K

$102K

How much do step down unit rn jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for step down unit rn in the United States is $72,401.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,000.00 and $69,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a step down unit RN?

Step Down Unit RNs are registered nurses who care for patients who require more attention than those on a general medical-surgical floor but are not critical enough for the intensive care unit (ICU). They monitor patients closely, administer medications, and respond quickly to changes in condition. Step Down Unit RNs often work with patients recovering from surgery, cardiac events, or severe illnesses, providing advanced monitoring and support to help them transition to lower levels of care.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a step down unit RN?

To thrive as a Step Down Unit RN, you need strong clinical assessment skills, acute care experience, and an active RN license, often with ACLS certification. Familiarity with telemetry monitoring, electronic health records (EHRs), and advanced life support protocols is essential. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and resilience help you manage complex patient needs and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring patient safety and optimal outcomes in a high-acuity, fast-paced environment.

What are common challenges faced by step down unit RNs, and how can they be addressed?

Step Down Unit RNs often manage patients who are too ill for general medical-surgical floors but do not require intensive care, which means rapidly changing patient conditions can present significant challenges. Balancing a higher patient-to-nurse ratio than in the ICU while still providing vigilant monitoring requires strong organizational and prioritization skills. Effective communication with multidisciplinary teams and quick decision-making are essential to ensure patient safety. Many RNs find that actively seeking mentorship, participating in continuing education, and using available support resources can help manage these challenges and support professional growth.

What is the difference between Step Down Unit Rn vs Medical-Surgical Nurse?

AspectStep Down Unit RnMedical-Surgical Nurse
CredentialsRN license, possibly CCRN or specialty certificationsRN license, often same certifications
Work EnvironmentIntermediate care units, closer patient monitoringGeneral hospital floors, broader patient care
Patient AcuityHigher acuity, more complex casesModerate acuity, routine cases
Job FocusMonitoring critical signs, managing unstable patientsProviding basic nursing care, patient education

The main difference between a Step Down Unit Rn and a Medical-Surgical Nurse lies in patient acuity and care complexity. Step Down Unit Rns handle higher acuity patients requiring closer monitoring, while Medical-Surgical Nurses care for patients with moderate needs. Both roles require an RN license and similar certifications, but the work environment and patient care focus differ significantly.

Do step down unit RNs get paid more?

Step Down Unit RNs typically earn higher salaries than those working in general medical-surgical units due to the increased complexity of patient care and the specialized skills required. Their advanced training, certifications, and experience in critical care contribute to higher compensation levels.
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Step Down Unit RN jobs near you
Infographic showing various Step Down Unit Rn job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,401 per year, or $34.8 per hour.

Travel Step Down Unit Registered Nurse

TNAA TotalMed RN

Evansville, IN • On-site

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

TNAA TotalMed RN is seeking a travel nurse RN Stepdown for a travel nursing job in Evansville, Indiana.

Job Description & Requirements
  • Specialty: Stepdown
  • Discipline: RN
  • Duration: 13 weeks
  • 48 hours per week
  • Shift: 12 hours, nights
  • Employment Type: Travel

We're looking for Progressive Care Unit RNs for an immediate travel nurse opening in Evansville, IN. The right RN should have 1-2 years recent acute care experience. Read below for more requirements.
As a PCU Travel Nurse, you will care for patients who require close monitoring and frequent assessment, but aren't unstable enough to need ICU care. Progressive Care Unit RNs will utilize computer equipment to monitor cardiac and other vital information, detecting any changes and thereby enabling intervention of life-threatening or emergency situations. Close observation is necessary as many PCU patients receive a significant amount of complex medications, sometimes through an intravenous line that may need to be adjusted or titrated. The PCU RN is sometimes also called a step-down nurse, and the PCU is also known as cardiac stepdown, medical stepdown, neuro stepdown, surgical stepdown and ER holding.
As a PCU Travel Nurse, you should be prepared to perform the following tasks:

  • Provide basic bedside care; stabilize critical cardiac patients.
  • Change dressings, insert catheters and start IVs.
  • Prepare, administer and record prescribed medication, reporting any adverse reactions to treatment.
  • Monitor and adjust specialized equipment used on patients, and interpret and record electronic displays.
  • Initiate corrective action whenever information from monitoring equipment shows adverse symptomatology.
PCU Travel Nurses should be able to stand and walk for long periods of time, as well as bend, lean and stoop without difficulty. RNs should be able to easily lift 20 pounds. Moving or lifting of patients may require lifting of up to 50 pounds at times. Because of the fast-paced environment, Progressive Care Unit RNs must possess good skills for coping with stress and be able to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Requirements*: BLS, ACLS, NIH, 2 Years
* Additional certifications may be required before beginning an assignment.

TotalMed Travel Job ID #1445734. Pay package is based on 12 hour shifts and 48 hours per week (subject to confirmation) with tax-free stipend amount to be determined. Posted job title: Progressive Care Unit - PCU RN - Travel Nurse

About TNAA TotalMed RN

TotalMed is a Top Ten, travel nursing and healthcare staffing agency with the mission of igniting purpose in healthcare. The organization staffs nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and other clinicians of all specialties in all 50 states. They offer local and travel jobs and match caregivers with the right organization to assist both facilities and patients. As an organization, they focus on putting highly-skilled staff into facilities to ensure adequate staffing for a better patient experience.


TotalMed specializes in recruiting and placing healthcare professionals in travel, PRN, and permanent positions across the country in Nursing and Allied Health. Throughout 2020, the organization filled roles at even the most short-staffed facilities during the most challenging time in healthcare. By matching the right travel healthcare professional with the right organization, TotalMed continues to offer a lifeline to facilities and their patients.

Benefits
  • Weekly pay
  • Guaranteed Hours
  • Continuing Education
  • 401k retirement plan
  • Sick pay
  • Wellness and fitness programs
  • Referral bonus
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Medical benefits
  • Dental benefits
  • Vision benefits
  • Benefits start day 1

Apply