A cardiac nurse (also called a cardiovascular nurse) is a registered nurse who specializes in caring for patients with heart and blood vessel conditions, including heart attacks, heart failure, arrhythmias and recovery from heart surgery. Cardiac nurses read heart rhythms, manage powerful heart medications, care for patients before and after procedures like bypass surgery and stents, and teach patients how to live well with heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and according to the CDC, one person dies from cardiovascular disease about every 33 seconds, which makes cardiac nurses essential in nearly every hospital.
This guide covers what cardiac nurses do, the different cardiac units (including the CVICU and cardiac step-down), how to become a cardiac nurse, certifications like the PCCN and CV-BC, salary, cardiac nurse practitioners, the history of cardiac nursing and how to celebrate the heart nurses in your life.
In this guide
- What is a cardiac nurse?
- What does a cardiac nurse do?
- Where do cardiac nurses work?
- What is a CVICU nurse?
- How to become a cardiac nurse
- Cardiac nurse certifications
- How much do cardiac nurses make?
- Cardiac nurse practitioners
- Is cardiac nursing hard?
- The history of cardiac nursing
- American Heart Month and celebrating cardiac nurses
- Gifts for cardiac nurses
- Cardiac nurse humor
- Frequently asked questions
What is a cardiac nurse?
Cardiac nursing, also called cardiovascular nursing or cardiology nursing, is the nursing specialty focused on the heart and circulatory system. Cardiac nurses care for patients with:
- Heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and chest pain
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation
- Coronary artery disease and high blood pressure
- Valve disease and congenital heart defects
- Recovery after bypass surgery, valve replacement, stents, pacemakers and heart transplants
Some cardiac nurses work in intensive care with critically ill patients on life support, while others work in clinics and rehab programs helping patients prevent the next heart attack.
What does a cardiac nurse do?
Cardiac nurse duties vary by unit, but most include:
- Monitoring heart rhythms: reading EKGs and telemetry strips and recognizing dangerous rhythms fast
- Giving cardiac medications: managing blood thinners, antiarrhythmics and IV drips that control blood pressure and heart rate
- Pre- and post-procedure care: preparing patients for cath lab procedures and surgery, then watching closely for bleeding, rhythm changes and complications afterward
- Responding to emergencies: running codes, giving emergency medications and defibrillating patients in cardiac arrest
- Managing devices: caring for patients with pacemakers, defibrillators, balloon pumps and heart pumps
- Patient education: teaching about medications, low-sodium diets, daily weights, exercise and warning signs to watch for at home
Where do cardiac nurses work?
"Cardiac nurse" covers several different units, each with its own pace and patient population:
| Unit or setting | What nurses do there |
|---|---|
| CVICU (cardiovascular intensive care unit) | Critical care for patients right after open-heart surgery, valve replacements and heart transplants |
| CCU or cardiac ICU (coronary care unit) | Critical care for medical cardiac patients, such as severe heart attacks, cardiogenic shock and dangerous arrhythmias |
| Cardiac step-down or progressive care unit | Patients who no longer need the ICU but still need close monitoring and frequent assessments |
| Telemetry unit | Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for stable patients with cardiac concerns |
| Cath lab and EP lab | Assisting with heart catheterizations, stents, ablations and pacemaker implants |
| Cardiac rehab | Supervised exercise, education and recovery programs after heart attacks and surgery |
| Heart failure and cardiology clinics | Outpatient care, medication management and follow-up to keep patients out of the hospital |
Learn how telemetry nurses read heart rhythms in our complete guide to telemetry nurses, see what happens during a heart cath in our complete guide to cath lab nurses, and explore our telemetry and cath lab collections for the nurses who work alongside cardiac teams every day.
What is a CVICU nurse?
A CVICU nurse is a critical care nurse who works in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, caring for patients in the hours and days after major heart surgery. CVICU is often pronounced "C-V-I-C-U" or "C-V-ICK-you," and it is one of the most technical units in any hospital.
CVICU nurses typically care for one or two patients at a time and manage:
- Patients fresh out of the OR after bypass (CABG), valve surgery or heart transplant
- Ventilators, chest tubes, arterial lines and pulmonary artery catheters
- Multiple IV drips to support blood pressure and heart function
- Mechanical support like intra-aortic balloon pumps, ventricular assist devices and ECMO
- Rapid response to bleeding, tamponade and rhythm changes after surgery
Many CVICU nurses earn the CCRN and the CSC (cardiac surgery) certification. It is also a popular stepping stone for nurses who want to become CRNAs. Read our complete guide to CRNAs to learn more.
How to become a cardiac nurse
Most cardiac nurses reach their unit in two to five years. Here are the steps:
- Earn a nursing degree. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) takes about two years, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) takes about four. Many hospitals prefer a BSN, especially for ICU roles.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse.
- Start on a cardiac-friendly unit. Telemetry, cardiac step-down and med-surg are common starting points. Some hospitals hire new graduates directly into cardiac units or CVICU residencies.
- Master EKG interpretation. Rhythm recognition is the core skill of cardiac nursing. Most units require a basic dysrhythmia course.
- Earn BLS and ACLS. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support is required on nearly every cardiac unit.
- Get certified once you have enough experience (see below).
Cardiac nurse certifications
There are several cardiac certifications, and the right one depends on where you work:
- PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse): from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), for nurses in step-down, telemetry and progressive care. It is one of the most popular certifications for cardiac step-down nurses. Eligibility requires 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely ill patients in the past two years (with 875 in the most recent year), or 2,000 hours over five years.
- CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse): AACN's certification for ICU nurses, including CVICU and CCU nurses, with the same hour requirements as the PCCN.
- CMC and CSC: AACN subspecialty certifications in cardiac medicine and cardiac surgery, for nurses who already hold the CCRN or PCCN.
- CV-BC (Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification): from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), for nurses across all cardiovascular settings, including clinics and rehab.
- CVRN: a cardiovascular nursing credential offered by the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, with levels for different experience.
How much do cardiac nurses make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate salary for cardiac nurses, because it groups them with all registered nurses. The median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025, according to the BLS.
Cardiac nurse pay depends on:
- Unit: CVICU and CCU nurses often earn more than telemetry or clinic nurses because of the higher acuity.
- Location and hospital: large heart centers and academic hospitals in major metro areas usually pay more.
- Certification: many hospitals pay more for the CCRN, PCCN or CV-BC.
- Call pay: cath lab and EP lab nurses often earn extra for being on call for emergency heart attacks.
- Shift differentials, experience and travel contracts.
Cardiac nurse practitioners
A cardiac nurse practitioner (or cardiology NP) is an advanced practice nurse who diagnoses and manages heart conditions, orders tests, adjusts medications and often runs heart failure or arrhythmia clinics. Most cardiology NPs certify as adult-gerontology (acute or primary care) or family nurse practitioners and gain cardiac experience first. Nurse practitioners earned a BLS median of $132,300 in May 2025. Read our complete guide to nurse practitioners.
Is cardiac nursing hard?
It is challenging, especially in the ICU. Cardiac nurses need to:
- Recognize subtle rhythm changes before they become emergencies
- Understand complex hemodynamics and how each medication changes blood pressure and heart function
- Stay calm during codes, which happen more often on cardiac units than most others
- Educate patients who are scared, overwhelmed and facing major lifestyle changes
The payoff? Cardiac nurses get to see some of the most dramatic recoveries in medicine: a patient who arrived in cardiac arrest walking out of the hospital, or a heart surgery patient going from ventilator to cardiac rehab in a matter of days.
The history of cardiac nursing
Cardiac nursing helped transform what nurses were allowed to do.
- 1950s: new technology arrives. External defibrillators and closed-chest CPR show that cardiac arrest can be reversed, and heart monitors make it possible to watch rhythms continuously.
- 1961: cardiologists in the U.S. and U.K. publish the first descriptions of a dedicated coronary care unit.
- May 1962: Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, under Dr. Hughes Day, opens the first coronary care unit in the United States. Specially trained nurses there monitored patients, started IVs and performed CPR, skills that were mostly learned on the job at the time.
- 1960s: coronary care units spread worldwide. Survival improved dramatically once nurses were allowed to defibrillate patients themselves, rather than waiting for a physician to arrive. At first, many physicians argued defibrillators were too dangerous to trust to nurses.
- 1964: February becomes American Heart Month by presidential proclamation.
- 1970s and beyond: open-heart surgery, cath labs and angioplasty create new cardiac nursing roles, from the CVICU to the cath lab.
- Today: cardiac nurses manage heart pumps, ECMO and advanced devices that were science fiction 50 years ago.
American Heart Month and celebrating cardiac nurses
February is American Heart Month, and it is the best time of year to celebrate cardiac nurses. It includes National Wear Red Day on the first Friday of February, when cardiac units across the country wear red to raise awareness of heart disease. Valentine's Day falls right in the middle, which makes February the unofficial month of the heart nurse.
Ideas for celebrating cardiac teams
- Organize a unit-wide Wear Red Day photo, all in red scrubs or shirts.
- Bring in heart-healthy snacks (and a few not-so-healthy Valentine's treats).
- Invite former patients to share recovery stories with the staff.
- Sponsor PCCN, CCRN or CV-BC exam fees for nurses who want to certify.
- Give the team matching cardiac shirts to wear together.
If a cardiac nurse cared for you or someone you love, a thank-you card with an update on how you are doing now means the world. Cardiac nurses rarely get to see the long-term results of their work.
Gifts for cardiac nurses
A few favorites from our cardiac collection:
Because cardiac nurses literally listen to hearts for a living. Perfect for Wear Red Day or any day off. $29.99
Shop now →
For the coffee that keeps cardiac nurses' own hearts beating through a 12-hour shift. $15.99
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A fun notebook for rhythm strip notes, PCCN study guides or report sheets. $17.99
Shop now →Cardiac nurse humor
- "I handle heartbreak. Literally." (Now a sticker.)
- "My love language is a normal sinus rhythm."
- "I don't always read EKGs for fun. Actually, yes I do."
- "Please stop reaching for the salt shaker. I can see you."
- "Cardiac nurse: professionally obsessed with your potassium."
- "Nothing gets a cardiac nurse's heart racing like someone else's V-tach."
Frequently asked questions
What does a cardiac nurse do?
Cardiac nurses care for patients with heart and blood vessel conditions. They monitor heart rhythms, give cardiac medications, care for patients before and after heart procedures and surgery, respond to cardiac emergencies and teach patients how to manage heart disease.
What is the difference between a cardiac nurse and a cardiovascular nurse?
The terms are used interchangeably. Both describe registered nurses who specialize in the heart and circulatory system. "Cardiovascular" technically includes blood vessels as well as the heart.
What is a CVICU nurse?
A CVICU nurse works in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, caring for critically ill patients after open-heart surgery, valve replacements and heart transplants. They manage ventilators, chest tubes, IV drips and mechanical heart support devices.
What certification should a cardiac nurse get?
It depends on the unit. Step-down and telemetry nurses often earn the PCCN, ICU nurses earn the CCRN, and nurses in any cardiovascular setting can earn the ANCC's CV-BC. Experienced critical care nurses can add the CMC or CSC subspecialty certifications.
How much do cardiac nurses make?
BLS does not report cardiac nurse pay separately. Registered nurses overall earned a median of $97,550 in May 2025. Cardiac nurse pay varies by unit, location, certification, call pay and experience.
Can new grads become cardiac nurses?
Yes. Many hospitals hire new graduates into telemetry, cardiac step-down and some cardiac ICU residency programs. Strong EKG skills and ACLS certification help.
What is a cardiac step-down unit?
A cardiac step-down unit, also called a progressive care unit, cares for heart patients who no longer need intensive care but still need close monitoring, frequent assessments and continuous heart rhythm monitoring.
When is the best time to celebrate cardiac nurses?
February is American Heart Month, with National Wear Red Day on the first Friday of the month. It is the most popular time for cardiac units to celebrate their nurses.
Exploring other specialties? See our full guide to nurse specialties and the types of nurses.
Celebrate the cardiac nurses in your life
For American Heart Month, a new PCCN or just because: gifts for the nurses who keep hearts beating.
Shop the Cardiac Collection →Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart Disease Facts and Statistics
- American College of Cardiology, 60 Years of the Coronary Care Unit
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Flashback: Nursing Hearts
- Medical Journal of Australia, Cardiac Arrest in Australian Hospitals
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), PCCN, CCRN, CMC and CSC certification information
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC)