Cardiac Surgery ICU Registered Nurse
New York City, New York
The Mount Sinai Hospital

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse (RN) - CSICU (Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit)

Location: New York, NY
Employment Type: Contract

Job Summary

The RN in the CSICU provides safe, competent, and quality nursing care to critically ill cardiac surgery patients. The role involves comprehensive patient assessment, care planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient and family education, and adherence to evidence-based practices and institutional standards.

Key Responsibilities

Patient Care

• Deliver nursing care based on professional practice models, nursing theory, research, and evidence-based standards.
• Assess and evaluate patient needs using critical thinking.
• Integrate assessment and intervention skills in care delivery.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop and evaluate care plans.
• Prioritize patient care activities including teaching, rounding, coaching, and discharge planning.
• Educate patients and caregivers on care plans, health promotion, and disease prevention.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare team members.
• Manage assignments within a Modified Primary Nursing care delivery model.

Patient Experience

• Role model relationship-centered care through admission welcome, bedside shift reports, purposeful rounding, medication review, discharge wrap-up, and collaboration with physicians.
• Respect patient values, preferences, cultural diversity, and expressed needs.
• Establish therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
• Use evidence-based practices to understand patient perceptions of care.
• Address patient and family concerns and escalate as needed.
• Demonstrate caring, respect, compassion, empathy, and active listening.

Quality and Safety

• Practice safe, patient-centered care and identify barriers to quality.
• Demonstrate clinical skills essential to patient safety.
• Implement process improvement and evidence-based strategies.
• Participate in peer and institutional review processes.
• Collaborate on quality improvement projects and nursing research.
• Follow high reliability principles to avoid high-risk behaviors.
• Escalate safety hazards according to institutional protocols.
• Document nursing practice accurately to support quality initiatives.

Operations

• Perform charge nurse duties as assigned.
• Coordinate supply and inventory management with nursing leadership.
• Escalate resource deficits appropriately.
• Promote cost-effective patient care approaches.
• Facilitate patient throughput during shifts.

Professional Development

• Support clinical colleagues, patients, families, and healthcare team members.
• Advance clinical competence from novice to expert.
• Maintain a professional image and communicate with empathy and respect.
• Apply ethical principles in decision-making.
• Encourage lifelong learning, scholarship, and innovation.
• Acquire knowledge relevant to role, specialty, and community health needs.
• Participate in shared decision-making through councils and committees.

Required Qualifications

• Licensure: New York State RN License
• Certifications: BLS (Basic Life Support)
• Experience:

  • Minimum 2 years RN experience
  • Minimum 2 years experience in Post Open Heart and Cardiac Care Unit (CSICU)
• Travel Experience:

  • 1 year prior travel experience required for travel positions
  • Not required for per diem positions
• Preferred:

  • EPIC electronic health record experience
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred; Associate degree considered with relevant experience or active BSN matriculation

Contract Length

• 13 weeks

This position is ideal for experienced cardiac ICU nurses seeking a contract role in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment with opportunities for professional growth and interdisciplinary collaboration.