CVICU

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) RN

Position Overview

Join the facility's CVICU as a registered nurse caring for mixed-acuity cardiac patients on 12-hour daytime shifts. This is a 13-week contract with weekends as scheduled.

Unit & Patient Population

The CVICU manages high-acuity post-operative and critical cardiac patients, including:

• Fresh open hearts and cardiac devices
• Acute MI (NSTEMI/STEMI) pre- and post-catheterization
• Post-operative thoracic surgery patients (VATS, lobectomy)
• Arrhythmias, heart blocks, bradycardia
• Pulmonary embolisms and cardiogenic shock
• Cardiac arrest and hemodynamic instability

Nurse-to-Patient Ratios

Required Experience & Skills

• BLS and ACLS certification
• Minimum 6+ hours post-operative open heart experience (fresh open heart preferred)
• CRRT, temporary/permanent pacemaker management
• Mediastinal and chest tube care
• Mechanical ventilation and hypothermia protocol
• Arterial line management
• Proficiency titrating cardiac drips: Cardizem, Cordarone, Cardene, nitroglycerin, esmolol, Cleviprex, milrinone, dopamine, dobutamine, Lasix, Bumex, epinephrine, Levophed, vasopressin, insulin, heparin, Aggrastat, Precedex, propofol, Versed, fentanyl
• IABP/Impella and hemodynamic monitoring experience preferred

Unit Resources

• 1–2 PCTs per shift
• 24/7 respiratory therapy in-house
• Intensivist/hospitalist coverage
• Telemetry monitored off-unit; nurses read own strips every 4 hours

Scheduling & Requirements

• Every other weekend
• Self-scheduling and block requests typically granted
• No call requirement
• Travelers float primarily to ACU/ICU; potential Med-Surg/Tele float with max 6 patients
• Royal blue scrubs
• 1-week orientation with modules, charting system training, and RN shadowing
• 50-mile radius residency rule applies; unexpired driver's license required for submission

Contract Details

• Duration: 13 weeks
• Guaranteed 36 hours per week
• Start: November 30, 2026