PCU stands for Progressive Care Unit, which is a specialized unit in healthcare that provides an intermediate level of patient care between intensive care units (ICUs) and medical-surgical units. Patients in the PCU require vigilant monitoring due to cardiac problems or other critical conditions such as stroke, severe infections like sepsis, epilepsy, tracheotomies, feeding tubes, and so on. The PCU is also known as a step-down unit or telemetry unit. The nurse-to-patient ratio in the PCU is often 1:4 or 1:5, which is higher than in the ICU. The role of a PCU nurse is to assess and treat acutely ill patients by monitoring vital signs, detecting changes, and performing interventions if necessary. PCUs offer high-quality, cost-effective, and safe care.