Registered Nurse (RN)

Unit Information

Location: Asheville, NC

Unit: 4Heart, Cardiovascular Progressive Care (CVPC)

General Information

The primary patient population in this unit includes those undergoing cardiovascular and vascular surgeries, including:

• Open heart surgery (CABG, AVR, MVR, Bentall, TAVR, etc.)
• Thoracic lung surgery (lobectomy, thoracotomy, etc.)
• Esophagogastrectomy
• Aortic Aneurysm Repair (open and endovascular)
• Femoral-Popliteal Bypass
• Carotid Endarterectomies

This unit also cares for overflow medical cardiology patients diagnosed with:

• Heart failure
• Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
• Chest pain
• Sepsis
• Heart block

Unit Details

• Number of Beds: 40 cardiac surgery stepdown beds
• Number of Staff: Approximately 100 total, including:
• Day Shift: 1 charge RN, 13 RNs, 4 Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), 1.33 Health Unit Coordinators (HUCs)
• Night Shift: 1 charge RN, 13 RNs, 4 PCTs, 0.33 HUC
• Patient Ratios: 1:5 for RNs, 1:13 for PCTs
• Type of Equipment: Baxter IV pumps, CADD epidural pumps, various lifts
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System: Cerner

Typical Hiring Profile

Required Skills

• Stepdown experience
• Telemetry experience

Preferred Skills

• Experience with cardiovascular and vascular surgery populations (open heart, TAVR, lobectomy, AAA repair, and fem-pop bypass) within the past year
• CVICU experience

Typical Procedures Performed

• Epidural management
• Chest tube management
• Tube feedings
• IV glucose management
• Cardiac medication management (phenylephrine, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, cardizem, amiodarone, insulin, heparin, nitroglycerin, ketamine)

Personality Fit

• Team player
• Enjoys fast-paced environment
• Flexible and adaptable

Required Certifications

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
• BLS (Basic Life Support)

Floating Areas

The position may require floating to any stepdown unit (1:5 ratios) or medical-surgical unit (1:6-7 ratios) and the emergency room inpatient holding area (1:6).

Dress Code

Scrub Color/Attire: All navy, white tops with navy bottoms, or all white.

Weekend and Holiday Requirements

No on-call shifts required. Minimum of 6 weekend shifts (Saturday/Sunday day/night) per 6-week scheduling period. Flexibility to work on holidays is expected.