A cardiovascular intensive care unit nurse, also called a CVICU nurse, is a health care practitioner who cares for patients with critical heart conditions. CVICUs work in hospital ICUs, where they monitor patients who have recently had a cardiac emergency or undergone heart surgery, such as a transplant or bypass.
What is a cardiac intensive care nurse?
What does a CVICU nurse do? CVICU nurses assess and provide care for patients dealing with cardiothoracic conditions and diseases. They're constantly evaluating their patients since the patients are usually extremely sick and can take a bad turn at a moment's notice.
What is the role of a nurse in CCU?
Responsibilities include monitoring, assessment, vital sign monitoring, ventilatory management, medication administration, intravenous insertion and infusion, central line care, Swan-Ganz catheters, and maintenance of a running record of the patient's status.
What is cardiac intensive care unit?
Cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU) is a hospital ward that specializes in the care of patients with severe CVD such as acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure, and fatal arrhythmia.
What can I expect from a cardiac ICU nurse?
CVICU RNs are responsible for the health and safety of patients under their care. They run IVs, observe vital signs, and operate heart monitors. CVICU nurses must always be on their toes. They are called on in emergencies to provide CPR and may be asked to operate defibrillators to restart patients' hearts.