Cardiac Stepdown | Registered Nurse

Travel Registered Nurse (RN) – Cardiac Stepdown and Thoracic Surgery in Madison, WI

Experienced acute care RNs can join a high-acuity cardiac stepdown, progressive care, and thoracic surgery team in Madison, Wisconsin. This 13-week travel nursing assignment offers the opportunity to care for complex cardiac, thoracic, surgical, and post-operative patients in a collaborative healthcare environment.

Travel RN Job Details

• Specialty: Cardiac Stepdown / Intermediate Care / Progressive Care / Thoracic Surgery
• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,250–$2,370
• Location: Madison, Wisconsin — Wisconsin’s capital city, located between Lakes Mendota and Monona, offering lakeside scenery and convenient opportunities for outdoor recreation.
• Assignment Type: 13-week travel nursing assignment
• Start Date: November 30, 2026
• End Date: March 1, 2027
• Schedule: Night shift, generally 3 shifts per week; 3x12-hour schedule from approximately 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
• Shift Duration: 12-hour nights
• Weekly Hours: 36 hours
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend, with some holidays required
• Patient Population: Adult and geriatric patients
• Typical Assignment: Approximately 3 patients per RN; travel nurses may float between cardiac/progressive care and thoracic units as needed
• Electronic Medical Record: Epic

Travel Registered Nurse Requirements

• Active Wisconsin RN license or compact RN license
• At least 2 years of acute care inpatient RN experience within the past 3 years, preferably in cardiac stepdown, progressive care, PCU, IMC, DOU, telemetry, or thoracic surgery
• Required experience with telemetry, cardiac care, oncology, and progressive care
• Required ventilator and transplant experience
• Required ICU or IMC and surgical post-operative experience; ICU nurses must be comfortable caring for IMC and general-care patients
• Thoracic surgery experience preferred
• Current BLS and ACLS certifications from the American Heart Association
• Strong Epic clinical documentation experience
• Successful completion of a pre-start telemetry examination, including rhythm identification and heart block interpretation, with a passing score of at least 80% and strict criteria for lethal rhythms and third-degree heart blocks
• Ability to float between designated progressive-care and thoracic units as needed

Travel RN Responsibilities

• Deliver compassionate, evidence-based nursing care to cardiac stepdown, progressive-care, thoracic, and post-surgical patients
• Care for patients recovering from esophagectomies, lobectomies, decortications, wedge resections, lung volume reduction procedures, cardiac surgery, and other complex thoracic interventions
• Provide continuous cardiac telemetry monitoring and promptly recognize and respond to dysrhythmias and clinical changes
• Manage ventilated and noninvasively supported patients, including BiPAP, CPAP, and high-flow nasal cannula therapy
• Manage chest tubes, surgical drains, central lines, PICC lines, arterial lines, feeding tubes, wound vacs, and other specialty equipment
• Administer blood products and manage heparin, insulin, vasoactive, and other titratable therapies according to protocol
• Perform pre- and post-procedure care related to cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, hemodialysis, and thoracic procedures
• Interpret arterial blood gases, assess respiratory status, and collaborate with respiratory therapy and the interdisciplinary care team
• Participate in rapid response and code team interventions while maintaining accurate Epic documentation
• Support a teamwork-focused unit culture through critical thinking, patient advocacy, and evidence-based nursing practice

Apply now for this cardiac stepdown and thoracic surgery travel nursing opportunity in Madison, Wisconsin, and join a collaborative acute care team.

Benefits

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.