RN - Pediatric CVICU

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina 28203
Duration: 26 weeks
Shift: 12-hour Night Shift (1900-0700)

About the Facility

This facility is a 247-licensed bed hospital featuring:

• Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center
• Teaching Hospital
• Chest Pain Center
• Certified Stroke Center
• Congenital Cardiology ranked #7 by US News & World Report

Traveler's permanent address must be 50 miles outside of the home unit.

Unit Information

The Pediatric CVICU has 20 beds divided into two mirrored sides with 10 beds each. The nurses' station is centralized, with the most critical patients placed behind it.

• Patient Types/Common Diagnoses: High-acuity patients aged 0-18 years old with congenital heart differences, including:
• Post-surgical cardiac patients
• Medical management of pre- and post-transplant patients
• Post-catheterization lab patients
• Ventricular assistive devices (VADs)
• ECMO, Impella, Dialysis, Aquadex (Renal Replacement Therapy)
• Patient Ratios: Varies by acuity: 2:1, 1:1, or 1:2
• Support Staff:
• 1 Health Care Tech per day (supports unit secretary duties and nursing needs such as runners and bathing)
• Unit Secretary every shift
• Free-floating Charge Nurse
• Phlebotomy (in-house but rarely utilized due to central lines)
• IV/VAT Team available
• Resource Nurse (free-floating)
• 24/7 RT, Cardiologist, Intensivist, and Telemetry monitoring

Responsibilities

• Provide high-acuity care to pediatric patients with congenital heart conditions, including post-operative open-heart surgery patients.
• Manage patients requiring advanced therapies such as ECMO, Impella, Aquadex, and dialysis.
• Float to PICU, NICU, or General Pediatrics as needed.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including intensivists, cardiologists, respiratory therapists, and resource nurses.

Requirements

• 2 years of Pediatric Cardiac ICU experience in a similar high-acuity facility.
• Experience with fresh open-heart post-op patients, transplant patients, and devices such as Aquadex, Impella, and ECMO.
• Competency to float to PICU (discussed during interview).
• Required Certifications: BLS, PALS, NIHSS.
• EPIC EMR experience.

Skills

• Pediatric cardiac critical care
• Management of ventricular assistive devices and ECMO
• Renal replacement therapy (Aquadex)
• EPIC EMR proficiency
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment

Schedule

• Shift Times: 0645-1845 or 1845-0645
• Weekend Rotation: Every other weekend or fewer as needed (Friday/Saturday/Sunday)
• Holiday Requirements: Travelers will work 75% of holidays (unit requirement is every other holiday)
• Call Requirement: Yes, based on previous date
• Orientation: 2 days of departmental NEO
• Schedule Cycle: Every 6 weeks
• RTO (Request Time Off): Manager approval required

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement options
• Free parking

Other Notes

• Scrub Color: Navy
• Unit Culture: Teamwork, Trust, Accountability
• Technology/Equipment:
• EMR: EPIC (required)
• IV Pump: Alaris
• Medication Dispensing: Omnicell
• Monitors: Phillips (centralized and bedside monitoring)