Qualifications/Skills of a Cardiac Nurse

Cardiology nurses may take on a variety of roles as they help diagnose, treat, and manage patient’s ongoing heart conditions. They work with patients, and their families, to encourage cardiovascular health through counseling, screening, disease prevention, and disease management. 

Cardiac nurses must also provide post-operative care for patients having bypasses, pacemaker implants, heart transplants and other heart surgeries. 

Getting started as a Cardiac Nurse 

• The steps to becoming a cardiac nurse will include: 
• Getting a nursing degree from an accredited nursing school 
• Passing the NCLEX examination 
• Obtaining your RN license 
• Gaining clinical experience. 

Most hospitals also want their hires to be certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. 

Certifications for a Cardiac Nurse 

After you have acquired experience in cardiac nursing, there are several certifications available. Getting a board certification proves your competence to current and future employers and may give you an edge in getting a coveted position or in a salary negotiation. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification. In order to take their exam, you must first: 

• Have 2 years full time experience as an RN 
• Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in cardio nursing 
• Have completed 30 cardio nursing continuing education hours 

The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) offers two certifications for cardiac nurses: Adult Cardiac Medicine (CMC) and Adult Cardiac Surgery (CSC). 

The CMC exam is designed for nurses who are working in the areas of critical care, intensive care, telemetry, progressive care, home care, and interventional cardiology, as well as in heart failure clinics, cardiac catheterization labs, and electrophysiology labs. 

The CSC exam is designed for nurses who are working in the areas of cardiovascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, or in post-anesthesia care units. Nurses in these settings provide care to post-operative heart surgery patients within the first 48 hours of surgery. 

Read More About Cardiac Travel Nursing Salary and Qualifications from the link below.