Cardiovascular Nurse

What a Cardiovascular Nurse Does

Cardiovascular nurses specialize in treating and caring for one of the most important organs in the body-- the heart. They spend most of their time working with patients who have diseases or disorders of the heart or who are recovering from recent heart surgery. Cardiovascular nurses must know a great deal not only about the structure and function of the heart but about the litany of illnesses and afflictions that affect it and how to treat them. They will often find work in intensive care units, cardiovascular surgery, cardiac clinics and ambulatory care facilities. During a normal work day, cardiovascular nurses will work to assess the health of their patient's cardiovascular system, checking blood pressure, monitoring heart stress and ensuring that patients are doing all they can to maintain strong, healthy hearts. Nurses in this field can choose many areas of specializations within it, some preferring to work with the very young and some the very old.

How to Become a Cardiovascular Nurse

Becoming a cardiovascular nurse requires additional training beyond that of a regular nursing program. Individuals must first complete a bachelor's or associate's degree program in nursing to become an RN, after which they must successfully take and pass the NCLEX-RN, a licensing exam administered by the state that allows nurses to practice in their field. It is only after this that nurses can start working towards the training they'll need to work as a cardiovascular nurse. After licensure, nurses must work for two years in the field, complete 2,000 hours of clinical experience in cardiovascular nursing, and take an additional 30 hours of coursework in their area of specialization. Once these requirements have been completed they are allowed to take a cardiac nurse certification exam. This certification will allow them to work closely with patients who have cardiac problems and need specialized care from nursing professionals.

Career Outlook for Cardiovascular Nurses

The job outlook for all nursing degree programs is estimated to be excellent through 2018 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but cardiovascular nurses could see a significant rise even beyond the normal career growth. As heart disease and heart attacks brought on by poor diet and genetics are on the rise in the United States, more nurses with specialized knowledge of this field will be needed in hospitals and medical centers in all communities. This is further exacerbated by the general shortage of nurses, especially in rural communities. Job availability overall will be good, but can be influenced by factors like education, experience and geographic locations so cardiovascular nurses should do their research before deciding on a community in which to work. Like many other careers, additional certification and education will improve the chance of finding work and getting promotions.