Nurse Tech- Night Shift

CVICU Registered Nurse

This unit has a total of 18 beds for mixed acuity patients with both step down and ICU status. Nurse to patient ratios are as follows: 1:1 for fresh hearts and devices, 1:2 for ICU status patients, 1:3 for step down status patients. Common diagnoses and types of patients include: Atrial fibrillation, heart blocks, bradycardia, NSTEMI, STEMI, cardiac arrest, hyper/hypotension, pulmonary embolisms, cardiogenic shock, heart surgery, and heart failure. RNs are required to titrate various drips including Cardizem, Cordarone, Cardene, nitroglycerin, esmolol, cleviprex, milrinone, dopamine, dobutamine, Lasix, bumex, epinephrine, levophed, vasopressin, insulin, heparin, aggrastat, Precedex, propofol, versed, and fentanyl. Charge nurses on night shifts may take an assignment. Nurse aides are present on this unit with a ratio of 1-2 PCTs per shift. There is a respiratory therapist on-site 24/7. Monitors are watched by monitor techs off the unit, but alarms are addressed by RNs. RNs are responsible for reading their own strips every four hours using Philips monitors. Self-scheduling and block scheduling requests are allowed and often granted, though changes may occur to meet unit needs. Weekend requirements include working every other weekend. Holiday requirements are as needed to fulfill the needs of the unit. There is no call or standby requirement. Travelers may float primarily to ACU and ICU, but can also float to Med-Surg and Tele with a maximum of 6 patients. The dress code consists of royal blue scrubs. The unit provides a one-week orientation, including modules, training, and shadowing with unit RNs.