CVICU Registered Nurse
Parkersburg, WV
Access Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Nights

Job Opportunity: CVICU Registered Nurse

Location: Parkersburg, West Virginia
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Overview

• Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) with 18 beds
• Mixed acuity including Step Down and ICU status patients
• Nurse-to-patient ratios:

  • 1:1 for fresh hearts & devices
  • 1:2 for ICU status patients
  • 1:3 for step down status patients

Patient Population / Common Diagnoses

• Atrial fibrillation
• Heart blocks, Bradycardia
• NSTEMI, STEMI, Cardiac Arrest
• Hyper/Hypotension
• Pulmonary Embolisms
• Cardiogenic Shock
• Heart Surgery (CABG, Valve procedures)
• Heart Failure
• Thoracic Surgery (VATS, Lobectomy, etc.)

Required Experience & Skills

• Prefer experience with fresh open heart patients; must have experience with patients >6 hours post-op open heart
• Must have experience with:

  • Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
  • Temporary pacemakers and post permanent pacemaker care
  • Acute MI pre/post catheterization care
  • Mediastinal and chest tubes
  • Ventilator management
  • Hypothermia protocol
  • Arterial line management
  • Common drips (see below)
• Preferred experience:

  • Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and Impella devices
  • Hemodynamic monitoring including Swan-Ganz catheter

Certifications Required

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

Clinical Responsibilities

• RNs are required to titrate drips
• Common titratable and set-rate drips include:
  Cardizem, Cordarone, Cardene, Nitroglycerin, Esmolol, Cleviprex, Milrinone, Dopamine, Dobutamine, Lasix, Bumex, Epinephrine, Levophed, Vasopressin, Insulin, Heparin, Aggrastat, Precedex, Propofol, Versed, Fentanyl

Staffing & Support

• Charge nurse role possible on night shifts; night shift charge nurses take patient assignments
• 1-2 Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) per shift
• Hospitalist and Intensivist coverage in-house
• Respiratory Therapists available 24/7 with equipment including vents, trach vents, BiPAP, CPAP, high flow, and Trilogy devices
• Tele/Monitor techs monitor cardiac telemetry off-unit; RNs respond to alarms and read their own strips every 4 hours

Scheduling & Work Environment

• 12-hour night shifts
• Self-scheduling and block scheduling often allowed, but may be adjusted to meet unit needs
• Weekend requirement: every other weekend
• Holiday coverage as needed
• No call or standby requirement
• Travelers float first; float assignments mainly to ACU and ICU, occasionally to Med-Surg and Telemetry (max 6 patients)
• Dress code: Royal blue scrubs

Orientation

• 1 week orientation including modules, Epic training, and unit RN preceptorship

Additional Notes

• Must submit a copy of an unexpired driver’s license with application
• 50-mile radius rule applies for candidate submissions

Required Qualifications Summary

• Registered Nurse license in good standing
• Minimum 30 months (2.5 years) CVICU nursing experience (based on specialty "CVICU RN - 30")
• BLS and ACLS certifications
• Experience with advanced cardiac and post-op care as detailed above

Prior travel experience is not explicitly required for this position.