Travel Coronary Care Nurse Jobs

The agencies on Vivian that currently have the most Travel Coronary Care Nurse jobs are Travel Nurses, Inc. (21), Nationwide Therapy Group (11), and PRN Healthcare (11).

As of Friday, April 19th 2024, Vivian has 28 Staff Nursing jobs listed. These jobs pay $46 per hour on average, with the highest-paying job listed up to $58 per hour.

Take a look at Vivian's Travel Coronary Care Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.

The coronary care unit, also known as the cardiac care unit, employs registered nurses with the critical care backgrounds. CCUs were originally designed to care for patients with acute heart attacks, but now they also provide critical care to patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, and congestive heart failure. CCU nurses specialize in caring for patients with these and other serious heart conditions that require continuous monitoring and treatment.

CCU nurses care for cardiac patients of all ages suffering from various severe heart diseases and conditions or They assess patients, administer medications, insert and remove IVs, monitor pain, and update patients’ medical records. CCU nurses vigilantly monitor heart activity and electrocardiograms to detect life-threatening arrhythmias and swiftly respond with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation when necessary. They work closely with cardiologists to ensure quality patient care and educate the patients and their families on heart disease and leading healthier lives. They also go over treatments and procedures, including devices like ventricular assist devices, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and temporary pacemakers.

CCU nurses primarily work at medical centers and public and private hospitals that are large enough to have a coronary care unit. They may also work in a hospital’s telemetry unit or at cardiovascular clinics.

Coronary care unit nurses must have advanced knowledge of the cardiovascular system and strong clinical skills to thrive in this fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment. They must remain constantly vigilant to the slightest changes in their patients’ conditions and have the ability to quickly react with life-saving techniques. They’re comfortable using specialized equipment and remain calm and compassionate towards patients and their families. Detail oriented, multitasking, critical thinking, and prioritizing care are other top skills of a good CCU nurse.

Becoming a coronary care unit travel nurse begins with earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program, then passing the NCLEX-RN and completing all state licensing requirements to become a registered nurse. CCU nurses must obtain Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certifications. Some hospitals recommend or require advanced certification, which can be obtained through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ Critical Care Registered Nurse credentialing and/or the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s board certification in Cardiac-Vascular Nursing. Many travel CCU assignments often specifically require nurses to have recent critical or cardiac care experience in a hospital setting.

Coronary care unit nurses may hold Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC) or Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC), among others.