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How to hire a progressive care nurse

Progressive care nurse hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring progressive care nurses in the United States:

  • There are currently 1,812,614 progressive care nurses in the US, as well as 654,051 job openings.
  • Progressive care nurses are in the highest demand in Nashville, TN, with 25 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a progressive care nurse is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new progressive care nurse to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a progressive care nurse, step by step

To hire a progressive care nurse, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a progressive care nurse:

Here's a step-by-step progressive care nurse hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a progressive care nurse job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new progressive care nurse
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a progressive care nurse do?

Progressive care nurses are nursing professionals who are responsible for monitoring the condition of patients that are admitted to the hospital's progressive care unit (PCU). These nurses are required to observe the acutely ill patients for critical vital signs and detect any changes while initiating life-saving interventions when needed. They must interpret measurements from specialized medical equipment while performing diagnostic assessments on the changes in the measurements. Progressive care nurses must also update patient files and report any deteriorating conditions to healthcare specialists.

Learn more about the specifics of what a progressive care nurse does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your progressive care nurse job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a progressive care nurse for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A progressive care nurse's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, progressive care nurses from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of progressive care nurses and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Progressive Care NurseDescriptionHourly rate
    Progressive Care NurseRegistered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.$21-54
    NurseNurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor... Show more$18-41
    Emergency Room NurseAs the name entails, emergency room nurses typically work in emergency rooms of hospitals to provide care for patients in need of immediate treatment for severe medical conditions such as injury or trauma. They work with a team of healthcare professionals such as physicians and other nurses to administer medications to patients, monitor health conditions, and plan for long-term care needs... Show more$24-60
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • BLS
    • Progressive Care
    • Acute Care
    • Acls
    • Telemetry
    • Vital Signs
    • ICU
    • Taking Care
    • Catheter
    • Home Health
    • Chest Tubes
    • Rehabilitation
    • Quality Care
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
    • Develop, implement and evaluate patients' rehabilitation goals to facilitate patient satisfaction.
    • Utilize EMR for charting, medication ordering, and referrals
    • Stage, measure, photograph wounds and document in EMR system.
    • Used strict aseptic technique during the dialysis procedure and when caring for the peritoneal catheter.
    • Set up and operate equipment as needed: EKG, cardiac monitors, suction and respiratory equipment.
    More progressive care nurse duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the progressive care nurse job description is a good way to get more applicants. A progressive care nurse salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a progressive care nurse in Tennessee may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level progressive care nurse. Additionally, a progressive care nurse with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average progressive care nurse salary

    $71,768yearly

    $34.50 hourly rate

    Entry-level progressive care nurse salary
    $45,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average progressive care nurse salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$104,807$50
    2New York$87,356$42
    3Maryland$79,655$38
    4Nevada$74,072$36
    5Virginia$72,529$35
    6Arizona$71,097$34
    7South Carolina$69,889$34
    8Ohio$68,199$33
    9Texas$67,137$32
    10North Carolina$66,315$32
    11Michigan$64,956$31
    12New Mexico$64,159$31
    13Missouri$62,054$30
    14Florida$61,737$30
    15Alabama$61,127$29
    16Louisiana$59,783$29
    17Kansas$54,219$26
    18Tennessee$53,951$26
    19Indiana$52,970$25
    20Nebraska$52,462$25

    Average progressive care nurse salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1AccentCare$90,647$43.5875
    2KPG$89,250$42.91
    3Southcoast Health$89,150$42.86131
    4Western & Southern Financial Group$86,405$41.54
    5Integrity Home Care + Hospice$86,257$41.473
    6Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital$83,506$40.1514
    7Alleghany$82,712$39.771
    8First Choice Home Health Care Inc$82,336$39.585
    9Sutter Health$82,238$39.54316
    10Tenet Healthcare$80,358$38.631,127
    11Sturdy Memorial Hospital$77,911$37.4620
    12Cedars-Sinai$77,865$37.44227
    13Therapy Resources Management$77,748$37.381
    14Texas Health Care$76,601$36.831
    15CorVel$75,787$36.445
    16Park Nicollet Medical Center Inc$75,769$36.433
    17Presbyterian$74,854$35.99107
    18NCH Healthcare System$74,104$35.63114
    19American Senior Benefits$73,964$35.56241
    20Alameda Health System$73,576$35.3726
  4. Writing a progressive care nurse job description

    A good progressive care nurse job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a progressive care nurse job description:

    Progressive care nurse job description example

    1. Consults with Nursing team concerning assessment evaluations and assist in planning an developing the skin care treatment to be performed.

    2. Initiate requests for consultation or referral.

    3. Examines the Guest and their records and discriminate between normal and abnormal findings in order to recognize when to refer the Guest to a physician for evaluation, supervision or directions.

    4. May act as a Unit Nurse when directed.

    5. Provides supervision to C.N.A’s and all subordinate staff which includes checking their work to ascertain that assignments have been completed.

    6. Administer medications within the scope of practice of the R.N. or L.P.N. Licensure. Maintain a current report of narcotics received and used.

    7. Carry out direct contemporaneous charting in your shift. Chart detailed monthly evaluations of each Guest that reflect his/her condition and progress.

    8. Ensure that Guest care plans are being followed and asses each Guest’s status in accord with their care plan.

    9. Round with physicians when needed.

    10. Must be knowledgeable of individual care plans and support the care planning process by reporting specific information and observations of the Guest’s needs, preferences and report any behavioral changes.

    11. Provide wound care when needed.

    12. Completes medical records documenting care provided and other information in accordance with nursing policies while maintaining strict confidentiality.

    13. Assure that established infection control and standard precaution practices are maintained when providing care. Follow established safety precautions when preforming tasks and using equipment and supplies.

    14. Reports all hazardous conditions, damaged equipment and supply issues to appropriate persons.

    15. Maintains the comfort, privacy and dignity of Guests/guests and interacts with them in a manner that displays warmth, respect and promotes a caring environment.

    16. Answer and respond to call lights promptly and courteously.

    17. Assist with new admissions and re-admissions when directed.

    18. Communicates and interacts effectively and tactfully with Guests/guests, visitors, families, peers and supervisors.

    19. Attend and participate in departmental meetings and in-services as directed.

    Supervisory Responsibility
    This position has direct supervisor responsibilities for Certified Nurse Aides and other personnel assigned.

    Work Environment
    This job operates in a health care setting. This role requires regular walking to various locations around the facility while pulling or pushing carts. This position works mostly in the Guest care areas as well as in occasional outside weather conditions. This role may also come into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses.

    Physical Demands
    while performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping on a regular basis. The employee must be able to lift and move items and patients weighing at least 75 pounds.

    Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

    Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
    This position is part of a health care facility that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

    Travel
    No travel is expected for this position.

    Required Education and Experience

    1. Graduate from and accredited nursing program.

    2. Current State License as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse

    3. C.P.R. Certified

    Preferred Education and Experience

    1. 3 years’ experience as an R.N. or L.P.N. in a long term care setting.

    2. One year experience as a C.N.A.

    Additional Eligibility Qualifications

    1. Knowledge of Joint commission procedures.

    2. Knowledge of IDPH regulations.

    Other Duties
    Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find progressive care nurses for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your progressive care nurse job on Zippia to find and recruit progressive care nurse candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit progressive care nurses, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new progressive care nurse

    Once you've decided on a perfect progressive care nurse candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new progressive care nurse first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a progressive care nurse?

There are different types of costs for hiring progressive care nurses. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new progressive care nurse employee.

Progressive care nurses earn a median yearly salary is $71,768 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find progressive care nurses for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $21 and $54.

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