Cardiovascular OR Nurses Relish Fast-paced, Lifesaving Work
Scrub nurses and circulating nurses find a worthwhile challenge in cardiovascular OR nursing jobs
By Megan Murdock Krischke, contributor
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for 1 out of every 4 deaths annually, according to the American Heart Association. Among the professionals working hard every day to lower these numbers are cardiovascular OR nurses, who work with patients suffering from heart disease and take part in procedures that often save or improve the quality of their lives.
Jackie Nelson, senior recruitment manager at AMN Healthcare company, said that operating room jobs are among the best specialties for travel nursing, because there is consistently high demand. “This would include CVOR [nursing jobs],” she explained.
Two cardiovascular OR nurses share their stories
After nine years working with post-operative patients in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU), Melodie Ancona, RN, BSN, clinical nurse at St. Luke’s Mid American Heart Institute, in Kansas City, Mo., became curious about what happens at the front end of her patients’ process, which led to her transition into CVOR nursing. Now, after 16 years in cardiovascular OR nursing, Ancona can say confidently that what she likes best is the constant variety of procedures, patients and surgeons.
Brianna Johnson, RN, BSN, CNOR, in her third year as a cardiovascular OR nurse at Virginia Mason Hospital and Seattle Medical Center, says the challenge of working with complex patients and managing numerous details efficiently is what drew her to the specialty.
“But I’d have to say that what I like best about my job is meeting with a patient and their family pre-op and assuring them that I will take excellent care of them,” reflected Johnson. “I know I work on a great team and that the patient will be well cared for.”
“It can be exhilarating to feel like you are working on the cutting edge; there is always new technology, new equipment and new procedures,” stated Ancona. “But, that is also the challenge of the job--you have to be willing to continually learn--and it can be stressful the first few times you are working with a new technology or procedure.”
One of the most exciting recent developments in CVOR nursing is the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR is a minimally-invasive technique for replacing a heart valve. Prior to TAVR, valve replacement always required open-heart surgery, a procedure too invasive for many elderly or fragile patients to undertake. The recovery time for patients undergoing a TAVR is also a fraction of the time required for open-heart surgery.
Johnson says that CVOR nurses must guard against falling into autopilot.
“Because every patient is different, you can’t just follow a routine. Of course there are certain medications we prefer to use, but you have to always ask if those are best for this patient. The procedure will go differently if a patient has a pacemaker. You always need to be thinking about what makes this procedure unique and how can I best prepare for that and care for the patient in this situation,” she said.
Most of the specialty training for cardiovascular OR nurses happens on the job, however the CNOR certification for perioperative nurses is recommended. An attention to detail and interpersonal skills are also important.
“While many CVOR nurses are on the obsessive-compulsive side of things, that isn’t a prerequisite,” Ancona stated, explaining that detailed-orientation is a skill you can develop. “The No. 1 skill a CVOR nurse needs is to be able to work on a team. These are complex surgeries and no one can do it alone--it takes everyone working together.”
There are two different roles a nurse can have in a CVOR--a scrub nurse or a circulating nurse. The scrub nurse passes instruments and assists the surgeon directly. The circulating nurse charts during the procedure, makes calls to update the family, answers pages, acquires any additional medications or blood products that are needed, assists with patient positioning and is attentive to maintaining the sterility of the field, among other tasks.
A standard CVOR nursing shift will include two surgeries that are typically about four hours in length, although they can go much longer. Ancona notes that it is quite rare for a patient to die in the CVOR, and that one of her favorite procedures to participate in is a heart transplant.
“Patients and families come in and they are so excited, but they are also nervous. You know that a successful procedure will radically improve their quality of life. It is very fulfilling,” she remarked.
“The CVOR is a very exciting place to work and a very challenging place to work. It is full of great personality types who are driven and like to do new things and that is what makes it fun and interesting,” Ancona concluded.
During American Heart Month and throughout the year, nurses are encouraged to share these patient resources from the American Heart Association:
• Heart-healthy habits
• How to recognize the signs of a heart attack
Travel CVOR nursing jobs are in high demand! Our staffing partners are currently seeking cardiovascular OR nurses and other specialists for high-paying jobs in thousands of locations; apply now to travel!
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