Job info

Registered Nurse (CVICU) - Travel Position

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Hours per Week: 36

Unit Overview

19-bed mixed CVICU/CVRU unit with 1:1 or 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio depending on acuity; holdover downgraded patients may have 1:3 ratio
High-acuity cardiac surgery unit performing approximately 850 heart surgeries annually
Support team includes experienced CVICU/CVRU charge nurses and an educator for orientation
Core nurses trained in critical care, heart care, recovery, and device management
ECMO team available; frequent use of Impella, IABP, and LVADs
Utilizes GE monitors and Cerner EMR system
Floating assignments include all ICUs and Stepdown units, and other areas as needed

Required Qualifications

Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina
Minimum 2 years of CVICU experience, with at least some experience within the last year
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Preferred Qualifications

Certification in Critical Care, Cardiac Surgery, or Recovery Room care

Typical Procedures and Skills

Management of IABP, Impella devices, and LVAD care (with team support)
Hemodynamic monitoring
Intubation and extubation
Pulling chest tubes and pacer wires
Frequent patient ambulation

Work Environment and Culture

Friendly, high-energy unit valuing lifelong learning and critical care expertise
Nurse attire: navy blue or white scrubs, nursing shoes, hair off shoulders, no fake nails
Shift start time adherence: arrive no earlier than 7 minutes before or after 0645 start
Overtime requires approval
Safety-first approach: new procedures require guidance from a second nurse or Clinical Nurse Coordinator (CNC)
Weekend/on-call schedule: every other weekend with extra days off included in contract

This position is ideal for experienced CVICU nurses who thrive in a fast-paced, high-acuity cardiac surgical environment and enjoy working with advanced cardiac devices and a supportive team.

Facility

Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

3.2rating(190 reviews)

12 nurses recommend working with Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

4.0rating

Anonymous

Labor and Delivery (RN)

Review of Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus on Apr 7, 2026

View all reviews

DetailsVerification data is contributed by healthcare professionals like you, who leave reviews on Vivian.

Short Term Acute Care
723 beds

ADDRESS509 Biltmore AvenueAsheville, NC 28801

View more details

About Asheville, NC

As a Travel Cardiovascular ICU Nurse in Asheville, NC here's what you should know:

Cost of Living

Slightly below the national average, making it an affordable place to live.
Wages may be slightly lower than in some larger cities, but they generally match up well with the cost of living.

Weather

Average summer highs around 84°F and lows around 63°F.
Winter highs average around 47°F with lows around 28°F.

Furnished Housing

Short term rentals are available and relatively easy to find, especially in the downtown area.

Transportation

Car friendliness with easy access to highways and parking.
Limited public transportation options, so a car is recommended for getting around.

Demographics

Asheville is known for its diversity and has a wide age range.
Common health issues may include allergies due to the abundance of pollen in the area.
There is a large population of travel nurses due to the presence of several healthcare facilities.

Things to Do

Abundance of restaurants, vibrant art and music scenes, various sports activities, and ample outdoor opportunities such as hiking, camping, and river activities.

Was this helpful?

Yes

No

We strive to have reliable information about every job. Tell us what we've got wrong so we can correct it.Report an issue