Registered Nurse (RN) - Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)

Job Description

Job Description: Registered Nurse (RN) - Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)

Location: Santa Cruz, CA, 95065

Care Setting: Acute

Contract Duration: 13 Weeks

Shift Length: 12 Hours

Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours per week

Hourly Pay Rate: $83/hour

Experience Required: 2 Years

Certifications Required: ACLS, BLS, NIHSS, COVID Vaccine (Certification)

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and skilled Registered Nurse (RN) for a 13-week contract in our Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) within a mixed medical-surgical unit in Santa Cruz, CA. This role is ideal for a nurse with a strong background in immediate post-operative cardiac surgery recovery. The successful candidate will provide exceptional care to patients recovering from complex cardiovascular surgeries and work collaboratively with a dedicated medical team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide direct patient care to critically ill cardiovascular patients, particularly in the immediate post-operative phase.
• Monitor and manage patients with complex cardiovascular conditions, including those recovering from mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valve replacements, CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting), and AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) repair.
• Utilize advanced nursing skills to operate and manage IABP (Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump), CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy), and ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) when necessary.
• Administer medications, treatments, and monitor patient responses, documenting care accurately in the Cerner EMR system.
• Collaborate with a cardiothoracic surgeon, CTS PA (Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant), and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement patient care plans.
• Float to other units as needed, with a requirement to be the first to float.
• Participate in weekend (EOW: Every Other Weekend) and holiday rotations as required.
• Be on-call or in standby as per unit requirements.

Unit Details:

• Type of Specialty: Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) within a mixed medical-surgical unit.
• # Beds/Rooms: 16
• Average # of Providers/Day: 1 cardiothoracic surgeon, 1 CTS PA.
• Average # of Patients/Day: 1 cardiac surgery patient, 12 additional general med-surg ICU patients.

Qualifications:

• Current RN license.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit or related acute care setting.
• Required Certifications: ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), BLS (Basic Life Support), NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), COVID Vaccine Certification.
• Recent and proficient experience in immediate post-op cardiac surgery recovery.
• Preferred but not required: Experience with IABP, CRRT, and ECMO.
• Proficiency with the Cerner EMR system.

Manager/Supervisor: Sandra Garcia

Application Process:

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting their resume and proof of required certifications. This 13-week contract position in Santa Cruz, CA, offers the opportunity to work in a challenging and rewarding environment, providing critical care to cardiovascular patients in a leading medical-surgical unit.