CVICU Registered Nurse
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 Overview

• Unit: Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)
• Shift: Night (4 shifts of 12 hours each, 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM)
• Hours per week: 48
• Patient-to-nurse ratio: 1:2
• Weekend shifts: As needed
• Floating: May be floated within scope to other ICUs, PCU floors, Emergency Department, and PACU for admitted patients
• Locals: No local candidates within 100 miles accepted
• First-time travelers: Accepted
• COVID-19 vaccination required; religious and medical exemptions accepted with proper documentation
• Guaranteed contracted hours: 36 or 48 hours/week; facility may call off up to 3 times during the 13-week assignment
• Overtime applies after 48 hours worked (effective 10/30/2025)
• New contracts and extensions must be at least 10 weeks
• A 6-month break is required after 4 consecutive assignments or 1 year of travel work, whichever comes first

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in New Mexico
• Minimum 2 years of CVICU experience, with at least some experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• ACLS certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC)
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC)

Clinical Skills & Special Requirements

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

  • Tach/PEG tubes
  • Surgical procedures
  • Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
  • Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP)
  • Impella device
  • Swan-Ganz catheters
  • Arterial lines (ART lines)
  • Central venous catheters (CVCs)
  • Chest tubes
  • Foley catheter insertion
  • Nasogastric (NG) tubes
• Patient diagnoses commonly encountered:

  • Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
  • Aortic aneurysm repair/dissection
  • Femoral-popliteal bypass
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Endovascular repair
  • Heart failure
  • Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)
  • Sepsis
• Familiarity with equipment such as CRRT machines, Hemosphere, Bladder scanner, Cortrak, Ultrasound, Phillips monitors, Impella, IABP, ECMO, ZOLL defibrillators, Dopplers, Glidescope, Pupilometer, Blanketrol, Arctic Sun, Belmont, and BairHugger

Facility & Work Environment

• Level I Trauma Center
• Teaching hospital with a children’s hospital component
• Short-term acute care facility
• Total staffed beds: 554
• Electronic charting system: Cerner
• Free parking available

Additional Requirements & Notes

• On-call is not required
• Block scheduling may be accommodated but is not guaranteed
• Return-to-Office (RTO) restrictions: Absences longer than 7 days require approval
• Orientation includes Cerner training attestation (testing out possible for experienced candidates)
• Relias Basic Dysrhythmia Exam required for certain units; candidates must pass with minimum scores and have two attempts before cancellation
• Management of Assaultive Behavior (MOAB) certification required for behavioral health units (not specifically for CVICU)
• Fingerprinting required onsite during orientation unless completed within past 12 months in New Mexico
• Various background checks required including EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG within one year of start
• Work experience checklist and confidentiality statement currently not required due to crisis credentialing policies

Prior Travel Experience

• Not required; first-time travelers accepted

Summary

This is a 13-week travel contract for a Registered Nurse in the CVICU with night shifts in Albuquerque, NM. The role requires at least 2 years of CVICU RN experience, including recent experience within the last year, a valid New Mexico RN license, and current ACLS and BLS certifications issued by AHA or ARC. The position involves caring for complex cardiac surgery patients and requires proficiency with advanced ICU equipment and procedures. COVID vaccination is required with exemptions accepted. The facility is a Level I trauma and teaching hospital with a robust orientation and credentialing process. Prior travel experience is not mandatory.