RN - CICU

CICU Registered Nurse

Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida is seeking a full-time Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) Registered Nurse to join our Comprehensive Cardiac Care Unit. This role is ideal for experienced pediatric nurses seeking clinical complexity, strong team support, and opportunities for professional growth within a stable, mission-driven organization.

Why CICU Nurses Choose Nemours Children's

• $10,000 sign-on bonus (minimum two years' specialty experience required)
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually
• Relocation assistance available
• $3,000 employee referral bonus

Why choose us?

Nemours Children's Health is a nationally recognized nonprofit pediatric health system with a long, stable financial history and the backing of the Nemours Foundation. We are investing in our talent, expanding programs, and growing our Orlando campus to support children with complex medical needs.

Our Orlando campus expansion is enhancing surgical capacity, specialty services, and advanced pediatric programs to meet the needs of Central Florida's rapidly growing population. This growth creates new opportunities for nurses to help shape programs, advance best practices, and deliver world-class pediatric cardiac care.

Our culture encourages perseverance, teaching, collaboration, shared governance, and professional development.

Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida

CICU Clinical Practice and Support

Recognition and Team

• Just Culture model emphasizing accountability and continuous learning
• Zero CLABSI, CAUTI, and SSI in the past year
• Strong collaboration with cardiology, cardiac surgery, and the multidisciplinary care team
• Strong unit-based practice council supporting the nursing voice in shared governance, standards of care, and practice development
• Beacon Award application submitted, reflecting our commitment to nursing excellence, a healthy work environment, and exceptional patient outcomes

Recognition and Team Strengths In the CICU, we embrace a Just Culture model that promotes accountability, transparency, and continuous learning. Over the past year, we have maintained zero CLABSI, zero CAUTI, and zero SSI, reflecting exceptional quality and patient safety outcomes. This success is a direct result of strong collaboration across inpatient and outpatient cardiology teams, our cardiac surgery partners, and our multidisciplinary CICU nursing care team.

Dedicated Cardiac Respiratory Therapists

Our unit has dedicated cardiac respiratory therapists who are specifically trained in managing the complex needs of our cardiac population, including post-operative and high-acuity patients.

Education and Simulation Resources

We provide multiple cardiac-specific didactic courses each year, including Post-Op Emergencies, Cardiac 101, Cardiac 102, and Cardiac Neonatal. The team also participates in mock codes and high-fidelity simulation training, allowing staff to practice rare but high-risk scenarios in a controlled, team-based learning environment.

Innovative learning methods, including team-based simulation exercises and scenario-based "escape room" training to strengthen critical thinking, teamwork, and rapid response in high-risk situations.

Patient Ratios and Assignment Structure

Patient assignments are determined based on patient acuity and nurse competency tier:

• 1:1 for immediate post-operative patients
• 2:1 for ECMO patients
• 1:2 for stable cardiac patients

Assignments are matched to both acuity and the nurse's competency tier to ensure safe and appropriate care.

Supportive Roles in the CICU

• Core charge nurses
• Relief and resource charge nurses
• Dedicated cardiac respiratory therapists
• Patient Care Technicians (PCTs)

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, family-centered nursing care to critically ill pediatric cardiac patients in the CICU
• Perform comprehensive assessments and develop, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans
• Manage care for post-operative cardiac surgery patients, ECMO patients, and medically complex cardiac populations based on competency tier
• Collaborate closely with cardiology, cardiac surgery, respiratory therapy, and other multidisciplinary team members
• Utilize evidence-based practice, clinical guidelines, and unit protocols to deliver safe, effective care
• Monitor patient status, interpret clinical data, and initiate appropriate interventions in response to changes in condition
• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, procedures, medications, and treatment plans
• Coordinate patient care, prioritize assignments, and support patient flow within the unit
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, research activities, and performance improvement projects
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the electronic health record
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor to peers, supporting professional development and competency advancement
• Uphold patient confidentiality, safety standards, regulatory requirements, and a culture of safety
• Demonstrate professional accountability through ongoing education, competency validation, and adherence to Nemours Standards of Behavior
• Support the hospital's strategic growth, including preparation for Level 1 Trauma Center designation and expansion of pediatric services to meet the needs of a growing pediatric population

Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN) required
• BSN preferred
• Active Florida or multistate RN license required
• Minimum six months' RN experience required; pediatric or cardiac experience preferred
• National specialty certification preferred

Required Certifications (within 30 days of hire)

• AHA BLS
• AHA PALS

Required Certifications (within 90 days of hire)

• ACLS

Required Certifications (within one year of hire)

• Cardiac Stable

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Four levels of medical coverage are available, including fertility care and prescription drugs for associates and their families.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) PTO will accrue according to your role and length of service. There are six paid holidays annually, and one day of paid volunteer time off.
• Paid Parental Leave New parents receive six weeks of paid leave at 100% of pay.
• Tuition Reimbursement Reimbursement available on approved courses to maximum of $5,250.
• Retirement Savings Plan There is a 403(b) plan with immediate participation and matching contributions. A 457(b) program is available for highly compensated associates.
• Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Basic Life Insurance is paid equal to one time your annual salary, up to a maximum of $500,000.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability All associates are automatically covered by our short-term disability coverage with income protection for disabilities caused by illness, accident, or injury that are not work-related, at 60% of your salary.