In a hospital setting, PCU stands for Progressive Care Unit. It is a critical care unit that provides an intermediate level of care between that offered in intensive care units (ICUs) and medical-surgical (MedSurg) 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. PCU nursing covers generalized and mid-intensity care within a medical facility. PCU nurses monitor patient vital signs, administer medication, and provide interventional care when necessary. Patients may be admitted to a PCU directly from an emergency room or transferred from a Med/Surg unit because they require additional monitoring, equipment, or medication. The average length of stay in a PCU varies, but patients usually don’t stay long.