Purpose

The Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) RN provides specialized nursing care for patients with mechanical circulatory support devices, primarily Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), used in the treatment of advanced heart failure. This role coordinates inpatient and outpatient care, including pre-implant education, post-operative management, and long-term follow-up. The VAD RN collaborates closely with cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, transplant coordinators, advanced practice providers, and other members of the multidisciplinary heart failure team. The position typically reports to the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Responsibilities

Coordinates VAD Patient Care

• Manages care for patients pre- and post-VAD implantation.
• Collaborates with medical team to assess candidacy and treatment plans.
• Facilitates continuity of care across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.
• Coordinates readmissions and follow-up appointments.
• Maintains detailed documentation and care plans.

Provides Patient and Family Education 

• Educates patients and caregivers on device operation and safety.
• Develops and updates educational materials and protocols.
• Conducts discharge planning and training for home care.
• Verifies patient understanding of equipment and emergency procedures.
• Supports psychosocial adaptation to life with a VAD.

Monitors Device Function and Patient Status 

• Assesses device parameters (flow, speed, PI, power) and patient vitals.
• Identifies and responds to alarms, alerts, and complications.
• Performs driveline site assessments and dressing changes.
• Coordinates with technical support and device manufacturers.
• Documents device performance and patient outcomes.

Collaborates with Multidisciplinary Team 

• Participates in clinical review meetings and care conferences.
• Communicates with financial counselors regarding insurance coverage.
• Coordinates with emergency services and long-term care providers.
• Serves as a resource for internal and external healthcare professionals.
• Supports regulatory compliance and quality initiatives.

Supports Program Development and Quality Improvement 

• Assists in developing protocols and workflows for VAD care.
• Participates in data collection and reporting for regulatory bodies.
• Contributes to community outreach and education efforts.
• Engages in continuous professional development.
• Supports research and innovation in heart failure care.

Provides On-Call and Emergency Support

• Responds to urgent patient needs outside regular hours.
• Troubleshoots device issues remotely or onsite.
• Coordinates emergency interventions with clinical teams.
• Maintains readiness for rapid response situations.
• Documents all on-call activities and outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Current RN license in the State of Texas or compact state
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• 2 years of ICU or cardiac care experience.
• Experience with mechanical circulatory support or heart failure patients preferred.

Relevant education or experience may be substituted.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or related clinical field.
• Certified Heart Failure Nurse (CHFN)
• CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse)
• VAD-specific training from device manufacturers (e.g., Abbott, AbioMed, Berlin Heart)
• 3+ years of experience in heart failure, transplant, or VAD coordination.
• Prior experience with cardiac assist devices.
• Experience in program development or research.

Salary Range

$95,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Environment

• Standard office equipment.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard.
• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients, or others.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
 

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.