Job Title: CVICU RN
Profession: Registered Nurse
Specialty: Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
Duration: 13 weeks
Shift: 12-Hour Nights
Hours per Shift: 12 hours
Experience: Minimum of 2 years in CVICU
License: Active Illinois RN license required
Certifications: BLS required; ACLS preferred; CCRN a plus
Must-Have:
- Minimum of 2 years of solid CVICU experience
- Ability to work independently and care for complex patients from the start
Description:
The unit has 20 beds, all private and monitored.
Nurse to Patient Ratios vary from 1:1, 1:2, to 2:1 depending on patient acuity.
Patient population includes post open-heart surgical patients, such as CABG, valve procedures, Vascular procedures, and STEMI cases.
Specialty intervention equipment utilized includes IABPs, Impellas, Swan Ganz catheters, ECMO, and external pacemakers.
Common lines used are PICC, Midlines, CVC, Swans, and arterial lines.
RNs are required to titrate various drips including dopamine, dobutamine, levophed, epinephrine, and insulin.
Charge nurses are present 24/7, along with a house supervisor.
Patient care technicians are available with varying ratios.
Respiratory therapists are present in the unit at all times.
Ventilators, CPAP, BPAP, and high-flow devices are utilized, requiring RNs to troubleshoot these systems.
All patients are connected to monitoring systems, and RNs are expected to interpret strips.
Shifts are not self-scheduling; scheduling considerations prioritize local staff.
Every other weekend and holiday coverage is required.
Travelers may float to different levels of care and are expected to manage a full patient load.
Professional appearance is required, with no specific scrub color mandated.
Unit orientation includes one day of unit-specific training and two days with a preceptor.
Proficiency in cardiovascular ICU components is necessary, with experience in managing multiple interventions preferred.