Travel CVOR RN Jobs

In the United States, the average salary for CVOR nurses is approximately $88,000 per year, according to data from Payscale. This figure, however, can significantly vary based on factors such as level of experience, geographical location, the size and type of the healthcare facility, and the nurse's level of education and training.

A CVOR nurse is a key player in the realm of cardiac care, specializing in assisting with surgeries that involve the heart and blood vessels. Their duties are multifaceted and extend beyond typical nursing responsibilities. They prepare patients for surgery in the cardiovascular operating room, administer medications, and monitor vital signs throughout the procedure. Additionally, CVOR nurses assist surgeons during the operation, which can include handling surgical instruments, operating medical equipment, and ensuring a sterile environment in the operating room. They also play a critical role post-surgery, monitoring patient recovery, addressing complications, and providing education to patients and their families about post-operative care. Their work is integral to the successful outcomes of cardiovascular surgeries and the overall healthcare team in a cardiac surgical unit.

Education & License Requirements

A registered nurse needs to complete their associate degree or bachelor's nursing degree from an accredited nursing program and take the National Council Licensure Exam NCLEX -RN Exam, which is a requirement to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Once the NCLEX exam is passed, you meet the requirements by your state nursing license board, and you obtain your RN license, then all that is left is to do is gain the necessary relevant experience in your specialty and explore additional certifications and skills checks.

Certifications

CVOR travel nursing professionals can earn the Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) to expand their knowledge. This certification is designed to validate the specialized knowledge and skills required for nurses working directly with cardiac surgery patients in the critical care setting. To be eligible for this certification, nurses must possess an unrestricted RN or APRN license, complete a certain number of hours in direct patient care of acutely/critically ill adult patients, and pass a rigorous examination. The CSC certification demonstrates a nurse's commitment to providing the highest level of nursing care to cardiac surgery patients and is recognized and valued by many employers.

Positions are primarily available in hospital settings, particularly in hospitals that have a cardiovascular operating room or surgery unit. These specialized units handle cardiovascular surgery such as open-heart surgeries, bypass surgeries, and heart transplants. CVOR nurses may also find employment opportunities in dedicated cardiac care centers and specialty hospitals focusing on heart and vascular health. Additionally, ambulatory surgery centers performing outpatient cardiac procedures may also employ CVOR nurses. The availability of CVOR nurse jobs can vary based on factors such as geographical location, population health needs, and the presence of specialized healthcare facilities in the area.

While compensation offers can vary greatly depending on the contract or agency offering, pay packages for CVOR travel jobs typically have four major components: hourly taxable wages, meals and incidentals, housing, and travel.

Hourly Pay

A full-time staff nurse working at a healthcare facility receives a salary, but most travel nursing employers offer hourly wages at a competitive weekly rate. Every pay package for a CVOR travel nurse must include a taxable hourly wage, and the amount can vary depending on the shift, location, and specialty required of the assignment.

Housing

Housing payments can be included in a payment from a staffing agency. This is typically offered to travel nurses in two ways. Either the company is providing housing, or the travel nurse is taking the housing stipend. It is more beneficial for the traveler to take the housing stipend for two primary reasons. First, they will have a choice in where they stay. Everyone’s definitions of comfortable and acceptable are different. The second reason the housing stipend is more beneficial for them is that it can be given as a nontaxable amount.

Meals and Incidentals

Also known as per diems, meal and incidental stipends provide a daily budget for daily living expenses for travel nursing professionals. These standards vary depending on the cost of living in cities and states across the country.

Travel Expenses

Travel is the last portion of the pay package. Many recruiters may not even offer travel and instead put that money into the per diems or housing for their travel nurse so they are receiving the benefits over the entire contract, not just at the very beginning or end of the contract.

While a travel stipend can be used to cover the cost of a flight for the CVOR travel nurse, it is more often than not used to subsidize the traveler's expenses to and from an travel nursing assignment. Travel expenses can be offered as a reimbursement rate per mile, though many agencies will opt to offer a flat rate to and from an assignment.