RN - CVICU

RN - CVICU

Community-based hospital located in an urban area

304 licensed beds

Teaching status includes interns, residents, advanced practice providers, and nursing students

Chest Pain Center accredited by the American College of Cardiology

Designated Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission

• Beds: 8
• Average daily census: 7
• Minimum experience required: 1 year of ICU experience
• First-time travelers accepted

• General medical patients requiring advanced hemodynamics and continuous monitoring of cardiac, respiratory, hemodynamic, and neurologic status, including those with myocardial infarction or cardiac interventional procedures
• General, vascular, or thoracic surgical patients needing continuous cardiac, respiratory, or hemodynamic support, including pharmacological vasopressor support
• Patients with intra-aortic balloon pump or Impella assistance
• Immediate post open-heart surgery patients
• Patients with respiratory compromise or failure requiring medium or high flow oxygen devices, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, or ventilator support
• Renal failure patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)
• Severe sepsis with hemodynamic instability and intravenous resuscitation
• Cardiac arrest patients requiring targeted temperature management
• Neurological cases such as stroke with or without Tenecteplase (TNK) or traumatic falls with neurosurgical interventions like external ventricular drain management or intracranial pressure monitoring
• Diabetic keto acidosis/hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome patients on insulin drips with Endotool titrations

RN: ICU level of care ratio is 1:2; high-acuity patients (immediate post open heart, Impella/IABP support, CRRT, or organ procurement) require 1:1 care; overflow patients awaiting stepdown or intermediate care have ratios of 1:3 or 1:4 depending on interventions

CNA:
Varies; nurse technician support is available

BLS, ACLS, and NIH Stroke Scale certification required

• Cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring, including cardiac strip and rhythm interpretation
• Management of arterial lines, titration of drips, and ventilator care (with 24/7 respiratory therapist support)
• Care of vascular lines, chest tubes or drains, and post-procedure sites such as transradial bands and femoral venous or arterial sheaths
• Experience with CRRT, immediate post open-heart care, and advanced cardiac support devices like Impella and IABP
• Advanced hemodynamic monitoring including Swan‑Ganz catheters, temporary pacemakers, and post pulmonary artery thrombectomy care (EKOS, Penumbra, Inari)

• CNA support available
• Receptionist/secretary duties are covered by RNs and nurse technicians on the unit
• Charge nurse present
• Phlebotomy support varies
• No dedicated IV/VAT team
• No separate resource nurse; charge nurse serves as resource
• Rapid response team available
• Respiratory therapy available 24/7
• Hospitalist coverage 24/7
• Intensivist coverage 24/7
• Continuous cardiac monitoring and rhythm interpretation are the responsibility of the RN

• Electronic Medical Record system: EPIC
• IV pumps:
  Baxter
• Medication dispensing:
  Omnicell
• Monitors:
  Philips Intellivue
• Unit-specific equipment includes CRRT‑NxStage, Edwards Lifescience Hemosphere/Flo Trac for minimally invasive advanced hemodynamics, and Arctic Sun for targeted temperature management

Floating occurs within the critical care division or intermediate care units.

Week 1 includes time allotted for new team orientation, EPIC training, and online computer-based learning modules

Followed by a 12-hour department-specific orientation shift with an RN preceptor

• Weekend rotation every other weekend
• No on-call requirements
• Travelers expected to work 75% of holidays
• Return to office requires resource team approval
• Shift times:
  Days 07:00–19:30;
  Nights 19:00–07:30
• Schedule cycles every 6 weeks

• Scrub color:
  Royal blue
• Free parking available
• Unit culture is positive and team-focused, emphasizing a high-technology, high-touch approach with a unified team environment