Job Description for CVICU RN
CVICU is an acronym for cardiovascular intensive care unit, an area of a hospital where care is provided for those with critical congenital and acquired heart ailments. RN is an acronym for registered nurse. CVICU RNs are registered nurses employed across the United States of America in every medical center that maintains a cardiovascular intensive care unit.
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Job Responsibilities
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A CVICU RN oversees the day-to-day care of all patients within the CVICU. He monitors the condition of all patients, keeping detailed and accurate records. Routinely, he observes and notates each patient's vital signs. According to the orders of the patients' cardiologist and/or the hospital's attending physician, he administers all treatment and medications. He also liaises with cardiologists and other physicians regarding recommendations and re-evaluations of patient-treatment plans. In an effort to further assess the condition of his patients, he may order tests on behalf of a physician, maintaining the ability to read and evaluate them. Communicating with the families of patients, he educates them on preventative and maintenance heart health related issues and offers them comfort when delivering negative information.
Job Opportunities
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Prior to receiving a degree, all registered nurses are required to gain clinical experience, working directly with the patients of a hospital. Those seeking to ultimately specialize as a CVICU RN should specifically pursue internships within cardiovascular intensive care unit. Oftentimes, these internships result in a formal offer of employment. Additionally, institutions that administer college nursing programs also provide job-placement assistance. Mid-career candidates will find open positions by reading classified advertisement, visiting online job search engines and by engaging the services of headhunting firms that place medical professionals.
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Qualitative Requirements
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To excel within the role of CVICU RN, a candidate must possess excellent interpersonal skills. The ability to care and be empathetic is also important. CVICU RNs bear a lot of responsibility, performing actions that can mean the difference between life and death. As a result, these professionals must also be responsible, alert and play close attention to detail. Emotionally, the ability to function during emergency and crisis situations is imperative. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that RNs who work in hospitals are at an increased risk of exposure to various hazards such as deadly viruses, diseases and other ailments. Candidates for this role must be comfortable working in this type of environment.
Educational Requirements
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To gain employment as a CVICU RN, a candidate must possess at minimum a bachelor's of science degree in nursing presented by an accredited education institution. Additionally, a candidate wishing to increase her professional marketability may choose to earn a master's degree in nursing. A CVICU RN must also be licensed to practice within the state in which she would like to work. While there is no formal certification program specific to this type of nursing, many CVICUs require that candidates have previous professional or internship experience within a cardiovascular intensive care unit.
Average Compensation
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Registered nurses make up the largest group of professionals within health care, holding about 2.5 million jobs in 2006. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor anticipates the employment of them to increase by 23 percent through 2016, faster than most other occupations. In 2009, Indeed.com reported that the CVICU RNs working in the United States earned an average annual salary of $72,000.
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