WHAT DOES A CARDIAC NURSE DO? 

We don’t have to be a medical professional to know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Every year, it is responsible for one in four deaths, killing even more people than cancer itself. And for that reason, taking care of the heart and cardiovascular system has to be everyone’s priority. 

Since the heart and the system that supports it are so important, it’s no surprise that there are health professionals of all kinds who specialize in cardiology. Cardiac care nurses treat and care for patients with a variety of heart diseases or conditions. 

But what do cardiac nurses do anyway? 

Also called cardiac nurses, cardiovascular nurses, or cardiology nurses, they are registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in the cardiovascular system. They work with patients with heart problems by following the treatment plan assigned by a cardiologist, monitoring the patient’s progress and administering medications to help with the healing process. 

Daily tasks of a cardiac nurse can vary according to the work environment. Cardiac nurses working in critical care settings, for example, may spend a lot of time using defibrillators, responding to patients in cardiac arrest. Cardiac nurses who work in a surgical setting are more likely to spend time preparing patients for surgery and helping them recover afterwards. 

For the cardiac nursing specialization, you must first become a registered nurse. While not required, it may be worthwhile to gain some general nursing experience to familiarize yourself with the job and improve patient care skills. 

One way to increase your marketability for cardiac nursing positions would be to pursue specialist certifications in the field. There are several notable certification options for aspiring cardiac nurses to consider. 

A cardiac nurse certification can take you deeper into the cardiovascular specialty. If you decide you want to advance further in the specialty, you can choose to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). 

In conclusion, cardiac nurses can assess patients, educate patients and families about chronic cardiovascular disease and their treatment plans, and analyze lab work or radiology results to create a plan of care. As a cardiac nurse, you might even work in a private cardiology clinic, seeing your own patients.