[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., responsible for one out of every four deaths, [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm” target=”_blank”]according to the CDC[/hen-ui-link]. Cardiac nurses care for people with various heart conditions and diseases.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses’ in-depth knowledge helps them understand the multiple factors that affect heart health. Cardiac nurses are sometimes called cardiovascular nurses or cardiology nurses. They play a vital role in delivering care to patients in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, including cardiovascular surgeons and cardiologists.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Continue reading to learn [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/cardiac/how-to-become/”]how to become a cardiac nurse[/hen-ui-link], including job duties and educational requirements.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What is a Cardiac Care Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses care for patients at the bedside in an ICU or cardiac rehabilitation. A [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/cardiac-care-nurse/”]cardiac nurse[/hen-ui-link] may choose to work in a variety of healthcare settings from inpatient to outpatient clinics.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses need comprehensive knowledge to work in various settings. They must also focus on continuing education to keep up with treatment modalities and therapies.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses are responsible for administering medications, performing stress tests, and taking care of urgent issues such as assisting in defibrillation. Education, experience, and strong communication skills are crucial to practice as a cardiac nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Steps to Becoming a Cardiac Care Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It takes 4-6 years to become a cardiac nurse. The time varies depending on whether you choose to enter an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses need experience in an acute care setting. They may then choose to earn their cardiovascular nursing certification. Specific licensure requirements vary by state.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Cardiac Care Nurse Education[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses can start their education in an ADN or BSN program. The most direct route to completing the educational requirement is to obtain an ADN degree. The requirement for certification is to hold an RN license in the state. However, most employers are seeking BSN-prepared nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ADN-prepared nurses can continue their education using an [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/best-online-rn-to-bsn-programs/”]online bridge program[/hen-ui-link] to complete their BSN degree while working on a cardiac care unit.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Cardiac Care Nurse Licensure and Certification[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]All cardiac care nurses must be licensed RNs in their state. Nursing graduates need to pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain an RN license. Continuing education (CE) requirements for licensure renewal vary depending on the state.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Some states require specific CEs, such as domestic violence or human trafficking. Other states also require a certain number of clinical practice hours to renew the RN license. Nurses should check with their state board of nursing for specific requirements.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many employers prefer certified cardiac nurses. Certification validates a nurse’s skills and knowledge to employers and families. It also positions the nurse for professional recognition and career advancement. Certification demonstrates a commitment to career development and dedication to patient care. The following are certification options for cardiac nurses:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Working as a Cardiac Care Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Depending on location and need, a new RN may find it difficult to get a job in a cardiac care unit directly after graduation. Nurses may choose to initially work in an acute care unit or medical-surgical unit for the experience.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A nurse can increase their chance of moving to a cardiac unit by completing CE offerings in cardiac nursing. They can also network within the organization and shadow nurses in the cardiac unit. Some areas where cardiac care nurses can work include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/cardiac-care-nurse/”]cardiac nurse’s salary[/hen-ui-link] depends on geography, education, certification, and experience. According to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Cardiac_Care_Nurse/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]Payscale[/hen-ui-link], the annual average salary for a cardiac nurse is $68,505 as of May 2022.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ style=”margin-top:2em”]Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Cardiac Care Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”circle-help” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]What skills do cardiac nurses need?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses must have acute care nursing skills, a strong foundation in hemodynamics and infection control, and be certified in advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS). Cardiac nurses must also have strong skills in communication, organization, critical thinking, and teamwork.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”circle-help” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]How long does it take to become a cardiac nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It can take 4-6 years to become a cardiac nurse depending on whether the student first completes an ADN or BSN program. Cardiac nurses require additional experience in acute care and cardiac care, plus CEs in hemodynamics, infection control, and other cardiovascular technical knowledge.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”circle-help” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]What kind of experience is important for cardiac care nurses?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cardiac nurses need experience in an acute care setting with critically ill and postoperative patients to sharpen their specialized skills. These include defibrillation, electrocardiogram monitoring, and stress test evaluations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”circle-help” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]What career advancement opportunities are available for cardiac care nurses?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The next logical clinical advancement opportunity for cardiac nurses is a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/cardiac/how-to-become/”]cardiac care nurse practitioner[/hen-ui-link] role. Advanced practice nurse practitioners partner with cardiologists and surgeons to provide follow-up care after surgery, educate families, and monitor treatments. Cardiac nurse practitioners may assist during surgery or manage cardiac rehabilitation for patients recovering from a serious heart condition.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”em”]Page last reviewed May 23, 2022[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”55093,34139,36852″][/hen-ui-article-row]