Cardiac nurses work with patients with heart issues. A growing number of patients in the United States are dealing with various heart conditions. Thanks to the services provided by cardiac nurses, these individuals can receive the care that they need to restore their heart health. Nursing programs offer rigorous coursework and supervised clinical experiences so that a cardiac nurse is prepared for any heart-related incidents.
Cardiac Nursing Job Description
Cardiac nurses also are called cardiovascular nurses. These analytical and empathetic nurses educate their patients in the areas of heart disease management and prevention. Cardiac nurses are exceptional communicators who provide effective steps to patients regarding rehabilitative and preventative steps.
Cardiac nurses work closely with their patients to provide the following services:
- Working with patients to reduce the risks of patients who currently have heart conditions, developing plans to preventing future heart problems, and providing rehabilitation services for those recovering from heart surgery or heart problems.
- Cardiac nursing involves working closely with cardiologists to help patients by assessing patients’ current risk of heart attack or heart disease. Cardiac nurse help their patients set and meet their goals for their health, and they provide assistance with implementing changes to their lifestyles.
- The job responsibilities of a cardiac nurse include caring for patients who have a variety of heart-related conditions, including congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cardiac dysrhythmia, and coronary artery disease. It is important to remember that cardiac nurses provide their services under the supervision of a cardiologist.
- Cardiac nurses must have specialized skills in order to perform their job. These skills include defibrillation, electrocardiogram monitoring, and administering medication through IV drips. Additions job responsibilities of cardiac nurses include cardiac monitoring, health assessments, stress test evaluations, and post surgical care in surgery units.
Video on Cardiac Nursing
Watch this view on what a cardiac nurse does and what they like and dislike about their job. I talk about cardiac nursing from my personal experience as a cardiac nurse. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos!
Cardiac Nursing Certification
It is necessary to hold a minimum of a diploma in nursing and have the registered nurse credential in order to be a cardiac nurse. Associate, bachelors, and masters degrees in nursing are also available through local nursing school programs. Before deciding upon an education route, it is important to remember that clinics and hospitals tend to show employment preferences to nurses who have receive the in-depth nursing education from accredited colleges and university.
Upon completing a nursing degree program, graduates must pass the NCLEX-RX examination to become a registered nurse. The credentials to become a cardiac nurse come with a bit more nursing coursework and experience. The cardiac/vascular nurse certification examination is made available through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in collaboration with the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the Society for Vascular Nursing.
The basic criteria necessary to receive the certification include an active, current registered nurse license or a recognized equivalent from another country, 2 years of practice as a registered nurse, a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over the past 3 years as a cardiac nurse, and 30 continuing education hours as a cardiac nurse over the past 3 years.
The three levels of certification to become a cardiac nurse include CVRN I (non-acute cardiac care), CVRN II (acute cardiac care), and CVRN II (catheterization laboratory nurse). Cardiac nurses must also receive certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Basic Life Support.
Cardiac Nursing Salary
There is a high demand for cardiac nurses since cardiac disease is currently the leading cause of death for those living in the United States. There is a great need for professionals in the area of heart health to educate those who are affected by coronary issues. According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salaries for cardiac nurses are $62,450. Nurses with higher levels of education, or those who choose to become travel nurses can earn substantially higher salaries. The nurse salary for cardiac nurses depend greatly upon the education level, location, demand, and experience level.
Cardiac Nurse Jobs Outlook
The need for licensed cardiac nursing jobs are expected to increase by 22 percent by the year 2018. Opportunities for cardiac nurses are in cardiac rehabilitation centers, intensive care units, coronary care units, clinical research, cardiac medical wards, cardiac catheterization, operation theatres, cardiovascular intensive care units, and cardiac surgery wards.
There is a great need for the specialized services of cardiac nurses. The area of cardiac nursing holds a great deal of promise for nurses who want to help those suffering from a variety of heart-related illnesses. The great thing about being a cardiac nurse is the wonderful work environment and the appreciative patients who need the assistance cardiac nurses provide.