OVERVIEW
What is a Cardiac Nurse?
A cardiac care nurse specializes in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with various heart conditions. Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the number one cause of death in the U.S., with stroke and associated complications coming in as the number four cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Cardiac Nurse Do?
Cardiovascular nurses are involved with the care of many conditions throughout all phases of cardiology relate care, from acute treatment to long-term rehabilitation. Some of these conditions include:
- Coronary artery disease. This is a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, slowing blood flow to the heart and increasing the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.
- Stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow is blocked and the brain doesn't receive adequate oxygen.
- Heart failure. Also called congestive heart failure, this occurs when the heart doesn't pump blood efficiently, resulting in fatigue and shortness of breath in the early stages.
- Heart arrhythmia. This is a condition in which the heart beats abnormally, resulting in inefficient and potentially life-threatening disruptions in blood flow.
- Heart valve disease. This occurs when valves become damaged or deteriorate and can't open or close correctly, resulting in incorrect blood flowing through the heart.
- Health assessments. These include evaluating a patient's medical history, existing conditions, and symptoms for signs of heart disease. They also include taking vital signs, listening for irregular heart sounds, monitoring patient intake and output, taking pulses at all extremities, and checking overall skin color.
- Administering medications and treatments. Cardiac nurses manage a patient's medications and their side effects; ensure those medications are given or stopped appropriately according to the physician's order; and insert and remove a patient's IV and chest tubes.
- Postoperative care. After patients who have had surgery leave the care of PACU nurses, a cardiac nurse will continue to observe for complications such as infection, hematoma, heart attack, and blood clots.
- Rehabilitation. This may begin in the hospital setting and can continue for months after a cardiac event. It can include exercise and other lifestyle changes, such as diet, that a patient must make to recuperate from a serious cardiac illness or surgery.
- Education. Cardiovascular nurses also provide important education for patients and families.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Cardiac Nurse?
- Complete your registered nurse (RN) degree program. Whether you obtain your RN (such as an ADN) or get your BSN, this is the first step to providing cardiac care.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN. To prove minimum competency in nursing, all applicants for RN licensure must successfully pass the NCLEX. Each state Board of Nursing has specific rules for qualifying to sit for the exam.
- Obtain employment and gain experience. Entry-level cardiac nurses may want to begin on a telemetry unit to gain the necessary experience in nursing skills such as ECG monitoring, as well as to gain knowledge about heart conditions.
- Grow into the career by pursuing certifications. Obtaining certifications is a way to show a nurse is dedicated not only to the profession but also to providing the best care. They may lead to better career opportunities and higher salaries, as well. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) offers a Certification for Heart Failure.
Best Degrees for a Cardiac Nurse
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $8,755 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: The program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Healthcare Policy and Economics
- Information Technology in Nursing Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Applied Healthcare Statistics
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
How Much Does a Cardiac Nurse Make?
$81,220
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for cardiac registered is around $81,220. However, compensation varies from state to state, and many cardiac registered nurses pursue certifications and advanced practice roles to increase compensation.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
6%
From 2022 to 2032, employment for registered nurses is expected to grow 6%. This projected growth rate is well above the average across all occupations. Aging populations are largely behind the forecasted increase in required healthcare services.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Cardiac Nurse Need?
Cardiac nurses need to have a mix of skills and in-depth knowledge of heart disease and cardiac systems to be effective in their role. In addition to an understanding of hemodynamics and the functions of different organs in maintaining cardiac health, some skills for cardiac nurses include the ability to:
- Maintain cardiac devices such as LVADs, balloon pumps, and pacemakers
- Interpret basic ECG readings and note changes
- Communicate effectively and efficiently with cardiologists, patients, and colleagues
- Think critically and interpret data to form a clinical picture
- Insert and maintain IVs, as well as care for chest tubes, PICC lines, and other invasive monitoring equipment
- Document interventions, assessments, and treatments in an electronic medical record system
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
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