A cardiovascular operating room nurse, or CVOR nurse, assists cardiac surgeons during open heart surgery. This nursing role is an elite specialty: in an operating room (OR) with someone’s heart exposed, the stakes are high.
CVOR nurses must be alert, efficient, and detail-oriented to quickly give the surgeon what they need and ensure everyone in the room follows best operating practices. Cardiovascular operating room nurses guard each patient’s safety and manage the room from prep to close.
Where Do Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurses Work?
Cardiovascular operating room nurses work only in hospitals that offer open-heart cardiac surgery. Since their job centers around surgeries, they usually stay in the operating suite area. During an operation, they may move around the room, getting supplies and charting. Some surgeries a CVOR nurse may work with include:
Not all hospitals offer this level of surgery, so cardiovascular operating room nurses may find more work in a larger hospital system. Often, open heart surgeries are done in teaching hospitals, where CVOR nurses will have the opportunity to work with doctors- and nurses-in-training.
After some experience, some cardiovascular operating room nurses choose to move into the research side of things. Cardiovascular surgery is constantly evolving, and CVOR nurses can provide valuable insight and skills to a research team looking to improve surgery techniques and outcomes.
What Does a Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse Do?
A cardiovascular operating room nurse works as an integral part of the operating room team, which can include surgeons, surgical techs, radiologists, and anesthesiologists. They monitor the patient to catch problems early, and constantly communicate with their colleagues on the patient’s status.
Cardiovascular operating room nurses’ responsibilities can include:
Administering medications
Collaborating with physicians and surgery techs
Coordinating care with other departments
Collecting laboratory samples of blood and other bodily fluids
Dressing changes
Emergency resuscitation
Head-to-toe assessment
Managing and accessing central lines like ports and PICCs
Managing and inserting foley catheters
Managing cardiopulmonary bypass machines
Monitoring vital signs
Patient and family education
Sedation assistance
Starting and accessing IVs
Surgical incision site cleaning
Transporting patients
Surgeries can be scheduled or unscheduled. The OR has a weekly schedule for elective surgeries, but if a cardiovascular operating room nurse works in a trauma center, they may field urgent surgical needs. Because of this, CVOR nurses usually have to take “call” hours.
When a cardiovascular operating room nurse is on call, they may stay home, stay onsite, or go about their business, but they must be able to get to the OR within a set timeframe. That way, if an urgent surgical need comes in on a weekend or at night, they can staff the OR and open up the patient quickly.
How Do I Become a Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse?
Cardiovascular operating room nurse candidates first have to graduate from an accredited nursing program with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After they graduate, nurses can apply to be cardiovascular operating room nurses as new graduates, but some ORs may require some experience first.
A graduate CVOR nurse (GN) will be trained by an experienced preceptor. Their nurse preceptor will teach them all the ins and outs of their OR, give them the inside track on surgeon preferences, and help them get to know the rest of the staff.
The next step for a CVOR nurse? Passing the state licensing exam: the NCLEX-RN. This standardized test is a series of multiple-choice questions, which shows a nurse’s clinical knowledge and capability to begin practicing solo.
After a CVOR-nurse-in-training passes the NCLEX, they may need to finish their orientation period before they take patients independently. Once a cardiovascular operating room nurse has some years under their belt, they may become certified in their specialty.
Some certifications will be required from the get-go, like:
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS)
An experienced cardiovascular operating room nurse may test to become a Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR). They can get their CNOR Certification from the Competency & Credentialing Institute and must meet the following requirements to apply:
A current, unrestricted RN license
Currently employed in perioperative nursing clinical practice, nursing education, nursing administration, or research
At least 2 years and 2,400 hours of perioperative nursing experience, with at least 1,200 of those hours in the OR
How Much Does a Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse Make Per Year?
A cardiovascular operating room nurse makes the same amount as a registered nurse (RN).
RNs average $81,220 per year as of 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This amount can vary depending on your work setting and the cost of living in the area. The low-end average was $61,250, and the high-end was $129,400.
Salaries vary depending on which state a cardiovascular operating room nurse practices. The west coast generally pays nurses the best, but they also have a higher cost of living.
The west coast, New England states, Minnesota, and Alaska pay cardiovascular operating room nurses the highest wage, but the cost of living in these areas can also be high. The lowest paying states are in the Midwest and some southeastern states.
The top paying areas for cardiovascular operating room nurses include:
Federal Way, WA: $114,802
Santa Clara, CA: $112,774
San Francisco, CA: $112,461
Washington, DC: $110,194
Los Angeles, CA: $109,885
San Jose, CA: $109,620
Fremont, CA: $108,916
San Buenaventura, CA: $108,294
Oakland, CA: $108,215
Marysville, WA: $107,742
Certified cardiovascular operating room nurses can be paid more than a nurse who is not certified, depending on the facility. In general, the more experience and proof of expertise, the more a cardiovascular operating room nurse will be able to earn.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse?
Cardiovascular operating room nurses are a highly specialized group. They assist in repairing one of the most vital parts of the body: the heart. These surgeries are risky and take a lot of skill, focus, and knowledge. Hospitals all over the US perform open heart surgeries, so CVOR nurses can find work where they want to live.
CVOR nurses usually get paid overtime for being on call, which can give them the opportunity for extra earnings. More importantly, they help fix hearts and save lives. Many CVOR nurses report high job satisfaction.
Are Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurses in High Demand?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, where someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds. A recent study found 900,000 heart surgeries are performed each year in the US, and each one of those surgeries utilizes nurses.
The United States is facing a shortage of nurses in all specialties. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 24% of US hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages, and at least eight states have had to call in help from the military for staffing. Cardiovascular operating room nurses have unique skills that will stay in demand for some time to come.
Additional Resources About Becoming a Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse
To learn more about becoming a cardiovascular operating room nurse, these additional resources may help:
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