Registered Nurse Cardiac Stepdown

Job Title

Registered Nurse – Cardiac Stepdown

Location

Wilmington, NC | Cardiac Stepdown

Schedule / Job Type

Contract | Nights | 3x12-Hour Shifts (18:45–07:15) | 36 Hours/Week | 13–26 Week Assignment

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care on a cardiac stepdown unit managing diagnoses including Atrial Fibrillation, CHF, ACS, CAD, cardiomyopathy, and various vascular conditions
• Monitor and interpret cardiac telemetry, manage dysrhythmias, and oversee post-MI, pre/post cardiac cath, and post-DCCV patients
• Manage cardiac drips and titrate vasoactive medications as indicated; maintain proficiency with chest tubes (Emerson/Pleuravac) and non-invasive airway management (CPAP/BiPAP, nasal cannula)
• Perform and assist with sheath management and sheath removal; utilize special equipment including femoral sheaths, TR band, Fem-stop, epicardial pacing wires, Doppler, bladder scanner, and EKG
• Document using EPIC, communicate via SBAR, and dispense medications via Pyxis; wear navy scrubs per unit policy
• Participate in unit float rotation (not first to float) and fulfill weekend requirements (4 per 4 weeks); contract staff must be available to serve on a Storm/Hurricane Team during catastrophic events or disasters

Required Qualifications

• Active NC RN license or valid Compact RN license (pending licensure acceptable for submission)
• Minimum 2 years of experience on a cardiac floor required
• Travel nursing experience required unless candidate has more than 24 months of cardiac-specific experience
• BLS and ACLS certifications required
• NIHSS certification required
• Must pass EKG testing prior to start
• Local candidates (within 50 miles of facility) are welcome; a lower rate applies

Preferred Experience / Skills

• Arterial line management experience
• Wound care and wound VAC experience
• Charge nurse experience

Why Join Us

• Gain exposure to a high-acuity cardiac stepdown environment with a wide range of complex cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgical patients and procedures
• Work within a structured unit that values clinical expertise, with a 24-hour orientation and defined float and weekend policies to support your transition