Travel Nurse RN - CVICU
Albuquerque, New Mexico
University of New Mexico Hospital

Job Opportunity: CVICU Registered Nurse

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Specialty: Cardiothoracic ICU (CVICU)
• Shift: Night shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (19:00 - 7:30)
• Hours per week: 36
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:2
• Weekend work: As needed
• On-call: Not required
• Floating: May be floated within scope to other ICUs, PCU floors, ED, and PACU for admitted patients
• Block scheduling: Not guaranteed
• Locals: No local candidates within 100 miles accepted
• Pending license: Accepted
• Return-to-Office (RTO) restrictions: Absences greater than 7 days require approval
• Overtime: Paid after 48 hours worked (effective 10/30/2025)
• Minimum contract length for new contracts and extensions: 10 weeks
• Break requirement: 6-month break required after 4 consecutive assignments or 1 year of work, whichever comes first

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in New Mexico
• Minimum 2 years of Cardiothoracic ICU (CVICU) nursing experience
• CVICU experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• ACLS certification
• BLS certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross

Clinical Skills & Special Requirements

• Experience with post-operative open heart patients
• Proficient in bedside procedures including:

  • Tach/PEG tube placement
  • Surgical procedures at bedside
  • Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
  • Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP)
  • Impella device management
  • Swan-Ganz catheter insertion and monitoring
  • Arterial lines, central venous catheters (CVCs), chest tubes, Foley catheter insertion, and nasogastric (NG) tubes
• Familiarity with patient diagnoses such as CABG, aortic aneurysm repair/dissection, femoral-popliteal bypass, pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, endovascular repair, heart failure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and sepsis
• Experience with equipment including CRRT machines, Hemosphere, bladder scanner, Cortrak, ultrasound, Phillips monitors, Impella, IABP, ECMO, ZOLL devices, Dopplers, Glidescope, pupilometer, Blanketrol, Arctic Sun, Belmont, and BairHugger

Facility & Work Environment

• Level I Trauma center, teaching hospital, children’s hospital, short-term acute care
• Total staffed beds: 554
• Electronic charting system: Cerner
• Free parking available

Additional Requirements

• Two professional references within three years of hire
• Complete employment application including at least 3 years of work history
• Work history verification for 3 years required with detailed documentation
• Completion of facility-specific compliance forms and training, including:

  • Traveler Compliance Form
  • Welcome PowerPoint acknowledgment
  • Cerner training attestation (required for new hires starting 8/4/25 orientation group; test-out option available)
• Physical and health documentation must be current and uploaded prior to start
• Candidates must review and sign arrhythmia exam attestation if required for their unit
• Candidates must complete all required competency and pass/fail testing within specified timeframes

Notes

• The location is not near public transportation; candidates must have reliable transportation arrangements
• Facility allows up to 3 call-offs during a 13-week assignment without penalty
• Candidates unable to pay fingerprinting fees may request exceptions through facility leadership (last resort)
• Returning candidates with a passed Relias EKG exam within 1 year are exempt from retaking the exam
• Candidates must score at least 80% on medication and competency exams to pass

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for experienced CVICU nurses seeking travel assignments in a high-acuity, technologically advanced environment.