Cardiac Progressive Care RN
Asheville, North Carolina
Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

Travel RN Opportunity – Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit (CVPCU)

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Facility Type: 815-bed acute care hospital, Level II trauma center, comprehensive stroke center, and children’s hospital

Position Overview

• Specialty: Registered Nurse (RN)
• Unit: Cardiovascular Progressive Care (CVPC) – 40 cardiac surgery stepdown beds
• Patient Population:

  • Cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery patients including open heart surgeries (CABG, AVR, MVR, Bentall, TAVR)
  • Thoracic lung surgeries (lobectomy, thoracotomy)
  • Esophagogastrectomy
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs (open and endovascular)
  • Femoral-popliteal bypass
  • Carotid endarterectomies
  • Overflow medical cardiology patients (heart failure, DKA, chest pain, sepsis, heart block)

Contract Length

• 13 weeks

Unit Staffing & Ratios

• Day Shift:

  • 1 charge RN (often out of staffing)
  • 13 RNs
  • 4 Patient Care Technicians (PCTs)
  • 1.33 Health Unit Coordinators (HUC)
• Night Shift:

  • 1 charge RN (often out of staffing)
  • 13 RNs
  • 4 PCTs
  • 0.33 HUC
• Patient Ratios:

  • RN to patient ratio: 1:5
  • PCT to patient ratio: 1:13

Required Experience & Skills

• Must Have:

  • Post-op or vascular background or experience
  • Prior cardiovascular critical care experience
  • Stepdown experience
  • Telemetry experience
• Preferred:

  • Experience with CV surgery and vascular surgery population within the past year (open heart, TAVR, lobectomy, AAA repair, fem-pop bypass)
  • Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) experience

Typical Procedures & Equipment

• Epidural management
• Chest tube management
• Tube feedings
• IV glucose management
• Cardiac drip management (phenylephrine, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, cardizem, amiodarone, insulin, heparin, nitroglycerin, ketamine)
• Equipment includes Baxter IV pumps, CADD epidural pumps, various patient lifts
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR): Cerner

Certifications & Licenses

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) – Required
• BLS (Basic Life Support) – Required
• NIH Certification – Required
• Registered Nurse License – Required

Work Environment & Culture

• Fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Friendly atmosphere with supportive management
• Opportunities for professional growth
• Located in Asheville, NC – known for natural beauty, arts community, and vibrant downtown

Scheduling & Dress Code

• Minimum 6 weekend shifts per 6-week schedule (Saturday/Sunday, day/night)
• No on-call required
• Flexible to work holidays
• Dress code: All navy scrubs, white tops with navy bottoms, or all white scrubs

Floating Assignments

• May float to any stepdown unit (1:5 ratio), medical-surgical units (1:6-7 ratio), or ER inpatient holding area (1:6 ratio)

Note: This role requires a strong cardiovascular and vascular surgery background with critical care skills in a progressive care setting.