RN New Graduate Nurse-Cardiothoracic Critical Care Unit

New Graduate Rn Opportunity

New graduate RN needed for the Cardiothoracic Critical Care Unit at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, NC. This is a 36 hours/week, day/night and weekend rotation, with flexible self-scheduling and an extensive benefit package.

The Cardiothoracic Critical Care Unit is part of the new North Carolina Surgical Hospital, and part of the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care. It is a fast-paced, Beacon Award for Excellence designated, 40-bed unit specializing in the care of critically ill patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease. The primary surgical procedures include coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair/replacements, heart transplants, lung transplants, LVAD, ECMO, aortic/thoracic aneurysm repairs, and complicated esophageal, thoracic and vascular surgeries. Teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration are hallmarks for this unit while providing expert "Carolina Care" to the patients and families we serve. Our ONE GREAT TEAM facilitates admissions, treatments, transfers, and discharges of patients 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Nurses who have less than 6 months of RN experience and have graduated less than 12 months before their anticipated start date will qualify for the UNC Medical Center New Graduate Residency program. This program is a yearlong program supporting transition from academia to practice for new graduate nurses. The program is layered on top of orientation to provide mentored clinical relationships which support development as a professional nurse. It is expected that candidates will have their North Carolina RN license prior to their start date.

CTCCU is currently accepting applications for start dates beginning in September 2026.

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary: Provides competent clinical nursing care consistent with professional standards. Reporting and accountable to the Nurse Manager/Director, the Clinical Nurse is responsible for coordinating and delivering patient care utilizing the nursing process in a hospital setting.

Responsibilities: 1. Education - Participates in identifying and meeting learning needs of self. Attends education programs based on identified learning needs. With assistance, uses patient education materials relevant to patient population. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn. 2. Evaluation of Care - Identifies expected patient outcomes. Seeks guidance as needed in revision of plan of care. Participates in discussion with members of the interdisciplinary team in evaluation of patient care. Communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care. 3. Implementation - Demonstrates competence in care of patients with complex problems, including population-appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Performs bedside point of care testing as required for patient care plan. Utilizes healthcare organization and nursing standards, policies and procedures in delivery of care. Organizes and prioritizes care according to patient/family needs. Consults with appropriate resources in a timely fashion regarding patients with complex care issues, unusual teaching needs and/or those at high risk for discharge planning. 4. Leadership - With assistance, develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified time frame or renegotiates with supervisor. Is knowledgeable about activities which facilitate intra/interdepartmental collaboration. Participates in development and achievement of unit goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost-effective care. Gives feedback to co-workers. Is aware of public policy and regulatory guidelines affecting the health care environment. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all 5. Patient Assessment - Recognizes data from complex situations to determine priorities for care. Includes appropriate physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs. Synthesizes assessment data into meaningful whole prior to communication to others. Assesses and anticipates discharge needs of individual patients and families. Develops relationships with families that promote their ability to advocate for the patient and their own needs. 6. Planning - Collaborates with patient/family to prepare or update the plan of care. Makes use of available multidisciplinary resources in planning care. Begins to use full range of communication as a means to convey planning. Identifies and addresses cultural and ethnic issues in planning patient care. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks for patients with complex problems. 7. Research - Reads journals that contain studies or articles that may be applicable to practice. Brings ideas and questions to the staff at large for assessment of applicability.

Education Requirements: Graduation from a school of professional nursing. If hired after January 6, 2014, must be enrolled within four years of employment, and obtain a Bachelor's degree with a major in Nursing or a Master's degree with a major in Nursing within seven years of employment date. Licensure/Certification Requirements: Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina by the day of clinical care. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification Professional Experience Requirements: No prior experience required. Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Critical Care Unit

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 36.00

Salary Range: $32.55 per hour (minimum)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Rotating

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation. UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email View email address on click.appcast.io if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.