Cardiac Registered Nurse Job Description

Cardiac Care Nurses

Before you can become a cardiac care nurse, you must have some hands-on experience. Cardiac care is well suited to nurses with a clinical care background who have experience handling injuries and illnesses. A medical- surgical or OR background is helpful as many cardiac care nurses look after patients who have just gone through heart surgery.

Communication skills are important for the cardiac care nurse's job, as situations can be urgent and miscommunication between the patient and the care team could cause major problems. ADN is the minimum education requirement to become a cardiac care nurse. The NCLEX-RN is required for nurses to hold an active license.

An MSN is needed to advance as a cardiac care nurse. Long-term cardiac care nurses should gain experience so that they can become certified. Cardiac care nurses work in hospitals to care for patients with cardiac problems.

They can work in private clinics or home health agencies. Cardiac care nurses may find employment in nursing homes, schools, and the military. Cardiac care nurses provide ongoing care to help patients manage heart conditions, such as administering medication and performing health assessments, as well as providing post-op care to patients who are recovering from heart surgeries.

They perform stress tests, monitor heart activity and inject IV drips. Pain management is a big part of their job, as well as helping patients manage their heart issues. Specialty clinics and children's hospitals often have employed cardiac care nurses.

Cardiac Nurses Earn Thousands of Dollar Per Year in 2011

Cardiac nurses need to be registered. A two-year associate's degree in nursing is enough for a registered nurse to pass a national licensing exam. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a Cardiac Nursing Certification for nurses who have trained in cardiovascular care.

To be certified, a nurse must have at least two years of experience and 2,000 hours of clinical training in cardiovascular nursing, 30 hours of continuing education, and pass the Cardiac Care Nursing Certification Exam. Cardiac nurses use stress tests and electrocardiograms to check patients for heart murmurs, blocked arteries and other cardiovascular problems. Cardiac nurses prepare patients for open-heart surgery and administer medication.

They report their patients' statuses to their doctors and surgeons. Cardiac nurses are also educators who teach people how to maintain cardiovascular health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says registered nurses earned an average of $68,115 in 2011.

The nurses in general medical and surgical hospitals made a lot of money. A survey of nurse practitioners' salaries was released in February of 2012 by Advance for NPs and PAs. The survey shows that Cardiac care NPs earned an average of $90,370 a year in 2011.

Cardiac Nurses in Cardiology

Cardiac nurses have a high level of education and experience that allows them to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions that affect the cardiovascular system. They work to promote optimal cardiovascular health among clients through preventative measures that include health counseling, screening, and stress tests, as well as disease prevention and management strategies. They provide care to patients with coronary heart disease, and also provide post-operative care to those who have undergone a heart transplant.

The exam is designed for nurses who work in critical care, intensive care, telemetry, progressive care, home care, and interventional cardiology, as well as in heart failure clinics, cardiac catheterization labs, and electrophysiology labs. The applicants can take the exams up to four times in a year. Every two years, certification renewal occurs.

To maintain certification, nurses must maintain their national certification in their specialty and meet certain continuing competency requirements. Each year there is a single exam date. There are 100 questions on the exam.

The certification is good for three years. If you meet strict practice hours and professional development requirements, you can be eligible for renewal. Awards Certificates are offered to those who achieve a 70 percent or higher score on the exams.

The nurse can get certification if she has at least 50 continuing education hours in cardiovascular nursing in the past three years. The Society of Pediatric Cardiology Nurses is dedicated to expanding nursing knowledge to children and young adults with heart disease. The SPCN has more than 300 members.

All registered nurses must pass the same exam, called the NCLEX-RN, although they may be educated in a variety of ways. They may have postgraduate education at the masters or PhD level. Many cardiac nurses are certified.

They must have experience in the field and a bachelor's degree before taking the certification exam and recertify every five years. It is necessary to take the exam again or complete 75 hours of continuing education relevant to clinical practice. Cardiac nurses are staff nurses, nursing managers, nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists.

Advanced practice nurses have a broader scope of practice that includes diagnosis and prescribers. Cardiac nursing nurses may specialize in a variety of areas. Cardiac rehabilitation nurses can supervise exercise programs for patients who have had a heart attack or cardiac surgery.

They can educate patients about lifestyle changes. Cardiac patients are treated in a number of settings. A cardiac nurse might work in a critical care environment.

Some staff units for patients who are less ill but still need cardiac monitoring. A cardiac nurse can work in a cardiac operating room or a cardiac catheterization lab, where they can perform open heart surgery. Other cardiac nurses work in clinics and hospitals.

Cardiovascular Nurses: The Healthcare System Need More Jobs

Cardiovascular nurses specialize in cardiovascular heart health. Cardiac nurses help treat patients with various heart conditions by administering different medications and therapies. Cardiac nurses work under cardiologists to treat both acute and chronic heart conditions.

They use tools like defibrilators for patients with heart failure. Cardiac nurses can help surgeons with heart surgery. Cardiac nurses in the intensive care units may need to use drugs or use a device to help patients.

They use hemodynamic or telemetry monitoring and they use catheters and balloon pumps. Cardiac intensive care units recover patients after surgeries. The job outlook for nurses is still positive.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the number of RNs could increase by 7% from 19 to 2029. There were nearly 222,000 additional RN jobs during that time period. The healthcare system will likely need more cardiovascular nursing jobs as Baby Boomers age and the prevalence of heart disease increases.

Board certification shows that nurses have the skills needed to work in cardiology units. It can give job seekers an advantage over uncertified candidates. It can lead to opportunities for career advancement and add leverage in negotiations for higher salaries.

The Pay of Cardiac Nurses in the United States

Male nurses earn more money than their female counterparts in nearly half of all specialty areas, but they are only 9.4% of the total number of RNs. A survey conducted by the Journal of Nursing Regulation found that male cardiac nurses earn more than female cardiac nurses. The BLS does not provide state salary data for cardiac nurses, but the pay rates for RNs show comparable compensation trends based on location.

Cardiac nurses earn the same wages as other nurses in most states. The average annual salaries of other popular nursing specialties are listed in the chart. Hospice nurses can earn around $70,000 on average.

Education and certification are important factors in determining compensation rates. The Medscape survey shows a base compensation rate of $77,000, while the 2020 workforce survey shows a median salary of $70,000. The BLS says that a median annual pay is $75,330 for RNs.

Cardiac nurses work with cardiologists to treat acute and chronic heart conditions. defibrillation, catheterization, and advanced cardiac life support are some of the treatments they use. Cardiac nurses may help with heart surgeries.

Cardiac nurses with advanced degrees can make more than $100,000. Nurse educators, administrators, and managers are often paid six-figure salaries. In cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles, the average for RNs is over $100,000.

RN to BSN Programs in Healthcare

The number of RNs in the United States is three times that of physicians. Nurse perform most of the services within healthcare because there are three nurses per doctor. Depending on their industry, the daily responsibilities of a nurse will change.

Critical care nurses in the ER will provide emergency care and manage pain. A nurse trained to work with children is more likely to make them feel more comfortable. Current nurses without a bachelor's degree can take an RN to BSN program to expand their career.

The programs are designed for registered nurses who want to progress in their careers. Every facility that offers healthcare services has at least one registered nurse working there. Hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes, care facilities, prisons, homes, remote, and military bases are some of the most common places.