Cardiac Nurse

Cardiac Nurse

Cardiac nurses are a key component to the medical field, being that cardiac disease is such a deadly illness, and number one cause of death in the United States. Cardiac nurses need to have a comprehensive knowledge base, considering the cardiac field is always expanding and coming out with new therapies and future treatments.

What does a Cardiac Nurse do?

A cardiac nurse is responsible for basic patient care, communication skills, and having compassion for their patients. The following is a short list of some of the skills and knowledge they need to have and know:

  • Being able to have good communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Catheterization
  • Patient care
  • Defibrillation
  • Advanced cardiac life support
  • Knowing the cardiac medications and what they treat
  • Knowing what the common cardiac conditions are
  • How to perform cardiac-focused assessments
  • Knowledge on Telemetry and heart rhythms

How to become a Cardiac Nurse?

If someone wanted to become a cardiac nurse, they would have to acquire a BSN or ADN, a BSN takes 4 years to complete and a ADN takes 2 years. These programs are offered at community colleges or universities and prepare them to become professional nurses. After that, passing the NCLEX-RN to receive a RN license is required by every state, the NCLEX-RN is an exam that evaluates their nursing knowledge and skills. Once someone is a RN, they can start working in cardiac nursing at entry-level roles to gain experience in the work field. To acquire certifications, two years of experience and 2000 hours of clinical cardiac-vascular nursing on top of 30 continued education hours are needed.

How much does a Cardiac Nurse make?

A cardiac nurse salary can have multiple factors that determine how much they make per year, such education, certifications, and how much experience you have. But the average salary for a cardiac nurse in the United States as of 2021 is $70,959 but can range from $62,937 to $80,033.

For more information regarding nursing salaries, visit salary.guide