Description
Lead cardiac nursing practice and direct nursing staff in delivering evidence-based cardiovascular care across inpatient and outpatient settings, including cardiac units, cath/EP labs, clinics, and home care. Ensure adherence to cardiology-specific policies, protocols, regulations, and standards to improve quality, safety, and outcomes for patients with acute and chronic heart disease.
- • Coordinate or deliver in-services on ECG/telemetry, ACS and heart failure pathways, anticoagulation, and device care.
- • Observe, interview, and assess cardiac patients to identify hemodynamic status, risk, and care needs.
- • Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of cardiac nursing practice and the cardiovascular service line.
- • Provide direct care by performing cardiovascular assessments, interpreting ECGs, ordering/interpreting diagnostics, and prescribing therapies per scope.
- • Provide specialized direct and indirect care in CCU, step-down, cath/EP labs, cardiac rehab, and cardiology clinics.
- • Maintain cardiology policies, procedures, pathways, and infection control standards.
- • Collaborate with cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiac surgeons, pharmacists, EMS, rehab, and other providers to optimize care.
- • Develop cardiology nursing philosophies, goals, policies, priorities, and procedures.
- • Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of cardiac nursing practice for ACS, HF, arrhythmias, post-PCI, and device care.
- • Develop or assist in individualized cardiac care plans, including titration protocols and monitoring plans.
- • Make clinical recommendations on antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy, diuretic and vasoactive titration, rhythm management, and device follow-up.
- • Plan, evaluate, or modify treatment based on telemetry, vitals, fluid balance, labs, imaging, and patient response.
- • Present patients and families with information to make informed decisions about PCI, ablation, CABG, medications, and lifestyle changes.
- • Instruct nursing staff in arrhythmia recognition, chest pain triage, HF management, and hemodynamic monitoring.
- • Direct or supervise nursing staff in delivering cardiac therapies, including anti-ischemic, diuretic, and antiarrhythmic regimens.
- • Identify training needs or conduct training on ACLS, cath lab readiness, device troubleshooting, and emergency response.
- • Stay current by reviewing ACC/AHA/HRS guidelines, literature, and professional meetings.
- • Monitor or evaluate cardiac conditions with the team, including therapy response and deterioration triggers.
- • Participate in cardiology research and quality improvement projects, including registries, protocol compliance, and IRB activities.
- • Perform discharge planning for cardiac patients, including medication reconciliation, follow-up, and self-management education.
- • Prepare reports on cardiac care activities and outcomes, such as door-to-balloon times and HF core measures.
- • Write nursing orders and standing orders for telemetry, labs, medications, and activity per protocols.
- • Provide consultation to providers on peri-procedural anticoagulation, chest pain pathways, HF transitions, and device care.
- • Develop and maintain cardiology policies and patient care standards based on evidence and guidelines.
- • Design evaluation programs to measure quality and effectiveness of cardiac nursing practice and systems.
- • Design patient education programs on HF self-care, post-PCI care, anticoagulation safety, and cardiac rehab.
- • Lead implementation of, and compliance with, cardiology-related regulatory and accreditation processes.
- • Chair or co-chair cardiology nursing councils, committees, or workgroups.
- • Teach patient classes and bedside education on cardiac conditions, treatments, and risk-factor modification.
- • Coach and mentor cardiac nurses, techs, and students to support professional growth.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
