<p>A specialty heart hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico is recruiting an experienced Director of Nursing to lead its Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). This is a full-time, permanent leadership role embedded within a facility dedicated exclusively to cardiac and vascular patients — a focused clinical environment that attracts high-performing critical care teams and supports advanced cardiac technology at the bedside. The single most compelling differentiator here is scope: this director oversees a unit running ECMO, LVAD support, Impella devices, IABP, and open heart recovery, making it one of the most technically sophisticated CVICU environments in the Southwest.</p>
<h3>Perks and Benefits</h3> <ul> <li>Competitive base compensation commensurate with experience, with bonus eligibility</li> <li>Full benefits package (medical, dental, vision, and additional coverage)</li> <li>Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates</li> <li>Interview travel reimbursement provided</li> <li>Leadership role within a dedicated cardiovascular hospital — not a general acute care unit competing for resources and administrative attention</li> <li>Opportunity to lead a highly engaged, high-performing CVICU team with an established culture of clinical excellence</li> </ul>
<h3>Practice Highlights</h3> <ul> <li>Facility type: specialty heart hospital / acute care hospital focused exclusively on cardiac and vascular patients — a rare single-service-line environment</li> <li>CVICU unit running the full spectrum of advanced mechanical circulatory support: ECMO, LVAD, Impella devices, and Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP)</li> <li>Open heart recovery managed within the unit, requiring director-level familiarity with post-cardiac surgery acuity</li> <li>Director maintains ability to provide bedside clinical support when operationally needed — a hands-on leadership model</li> <li>Full-time leadership schedule (40+ hours as needed), reflecting the operational demands of a high-acuity specialty unit</li> <li>Director responsibilities span staff management, scheduling, retention, recruitment, and performance management</li> <li>Oversight of quality metrics, patient satisfaction scores, and employee engagement initiatives</li> <li>Strong interdisciplinary collaboration model with direct physician relationship-building expectations</li> <li>State law requires a criminal background check as a condition of employment</li> </ul>
<h3>Qualifications</h3> <ul> <li>Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required from an accredited program; candidates actively enrolled in an accredited BSN program with a confirmed completion date will be considered</li> <li>Master's Degree in Nursing or a related field preferred</li> <li>Current RN licensure required; compact license or New Mexico state license eligibility accepted</li> <li>Minimum 3–5 years of recent CVICU nursing experience required, with extensive cardiac critical care background</li> <li>Minimum 2 years of formal nursing leadership experience required (Nurse Manager, Supervisor, Director, or equivalent title)</li> <li>Demonstrated proficiency with ECMO, LVAD, Impella devices, IABP, and open heart recovery required</li> <li>Current BLS certification required (must be obtained within 14 days of hire if not already held)</li> <li>Clinical specialty certification or nursing administration certification (e.g., CCRN, NE-BC, NEA-BC) preferred</li> <li>Proven track record in quality improvement, operational management, and interdisciplinary collaboration</li> </ul>
<h3>About the Community</h3> <p>Albuquerque is New Mexico's largest city, set at 5,300 feet elevation along the Rio Grande with the Sandia Mountains rising dramatically to the east — a backdrop that draws outdoor enthusiasts year-round with hiking, skiing at Sandia Peak, and more than 300 days of sunshine annually. The city offers a low cost of living relative to other major Southwestern metros, a vibrant arts and culinary scene rooted in New Mexican culture, and strong public and private school options for families. Albuquerque sits within easy driving distance of Santa Fe, Taos, and world-class recreation across the Colorado Plateau, making it an appealing base for clinicians who want urban amenities without urban density or cost.</p>