Your expertise belongs in top-tier heart centers nationwide. Nomad Health connects experienced nurses with the best travel assignments in the country. Sign up today to start your journey, or explore our wide selection of Cardiac ICU RN jobs below.
We believe in supporting our nurses completely. That's why every Nomad Cardiac ICU assignment comes with a comprehensive benefits package—including medical, dental, vision, malpractice insurance, and a 401(k). We also cover the extras: housing and meal stipends, $750 for travel expenses, and reimbursements for your scrubs, licenses, and certifications. It's easy to get started: create your Nomad profile and apply instantly.
Working as a Cardiac ICU travel nurse offers the opportunity to advance your career through exceptional weekly pay and professional growth while enjoying the security of a high-acuity specialty. It provides the freedom to work in dynamic, advanced cardiac care settings and with expert interdisciplinary teams across the country, allowing you to take the next step in your critical care journey with confidence.
Competitive Pay – Cardiac ICU travel nurse jobs frequently offer significantly higher pay than permanent staff positions. Your earning potential is maximized based on your experience and specialized credentials, with competitive weekly rates that reflect the high level of skill required for open-heart recovery and hemodynamic monitoring.
Continuous Learning and Skill Mastery – Traveling puts you on the fast track to mastering complex devices and critical care interventions. You will gain exposure to diverse patient populations and advanced technologies—including IABP, Impella, LVADs, and ECMO—while utilizing evidence-based protocols for post-operative cardiac care. You will also broaden your clinical perspective by working in various high-acuity environments—from large urban teaching hospitals to specialized heart institutes.
Location Freedom – One of the biggest perks is the ability to decide exactly where you want to work, from the specific city to the facility type. Accepting assignments in new locations allows you to experience different hospital systems and patient demographics you might not encounter in a regular staff position, giving you full control over your lifestyle, shift preferences, and contract length.
To become a Cardiac ICU travel nurse, the journey typically begins with earning a nursing degree, such as a BSN or ADN, and passing the NCLEX-RN to obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse. Following licensure, aspiring travel nurses must gain hands-on experience in a cardiovascular intensive care unit to master skills like hemodynamic monitoring, titrating vasoactive medications, and managing post-operative complications.
Many professionals also choose to advance their careers and marketability by obtaining specialized certifications, such as the CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse), CSC (Cardiac Surgery Certification), or CMC (Cardiac Medicine Certification) credentials. Once established with the necessary experience—typically a minimum of one to two years in the CVICU—and credentials, nurses can partner with a travel agency, like Nomad, to find assignments that fit their career goals and lifestyle.