Nurse Extern Cardiovascular ICU

Banner Health is seeking Nurse Externs for the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. This program is designed for nursing students graduating within 12 months who want to gain hands-on clinical experience before obtaining their RN license.

Banner Heart Hospital is one of the three largest single-standing heart hospitals in the United States, designated as a Level II Cardiogenic Shock Receiving Center and top STEMI receiving center. The hospital performs over 600 open-heart surgeries and 1,200 vascular surgeries annually, along with more than 150 TAVR procedures per year.

Clinical Setting

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is a 28-bed ICU providing high-level critical care to cardiac and vascular patients. The unit specializes in post-operative recovery, cardiogenic shock management, and care for patients with advanced hemodynamic support devices including Impella, IABP, SLED, CCRT, and EKOS catheters. The CVICU is a number one receiving center for patients requiring hypothermia therapy post-code. The unit is staffed by six cardiovascular surgeons, thirty interventional cardiologists, and nine vascular surgeons, with a strong collaborative culture focused on evidence-based care.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of an RN preceptor, you will:

• Assess patients and assist with patient care planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Administer medications under supervision
• Adjust IV pump rates and manage IV devices
• Manage parenteral fluids, blood products, and IV flushes
• Initiate, titrate, and discontinue oxygen therapy
• Perform basic data collection in the electronic medical record
• Practice any clinical skill for which you have received didactic and clinical instruction and can provide evidence of completion from your accredited nursing program
• Spend time with the clinical case manager and observe procedures relevant to the patient population
• Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify and report patient status changes
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members in planning and implementing patient care
• Follow all safety standards, compliance requirements, and facility policies

All skills must be performed under direct supervision of a licensed professional registered nurse. You may not perform any skill independently.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program
• Within 1 year of graduation at time of hire
• Able to graduate on your initial anticipated graduation date
• Current BLS certification
• Ability to pass the Nursing State Boards within 90 days after graduation (or within an additional 60 days if a second attempt is needed)

Schedule

• Varied shifts
• Minimum 12 hours per month
• Cannot exceed 20 hours per week

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional related education and/or experience

Program Goals

Banner Health's goal is for Nurse Externs to transition into a New Graduate RN position in the same unit after graduation and licensure. This program provides an opportunity to develop advanced clinical skills and gain specialized cardiovascular experience before obtaining your RN license.

Important Note

The Nurse Extern role is not a permanent position. Employment will be impacted based on criteria outlined in the Nurse Extern Program policy.