Heart Services nursing careers

Discover nursing careers with Heart Services at Duke University Hospital

At Duke Health, we're inspired by a compassionate commitment to advancing health. This commitment allows us to pioneer innovative progress and work together to improve community health in the Triangle and beyond.

Consider a career with Heart Services at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, where you can find the support and opportunity you need to advance your nursing career. Here, you can count on programs, initiatives, and a culture that help to truly bring out your best.

Discover cardiothoracic nursing careers with Heart Services > 

Discover cardiology nursing careers with Heart Services > 

Heart Services units

There are three cardiac stepdown units at Duke University Hospital with typical nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:4. 

• Care for cardiology medicine patients with a range of diagnoses, including
  acute coronary syndrome, post cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology
  procedures, dysrhythmias, heart failure, heart transplant workups and
  congenital heart disease
• The patients require high acuity care, and many come directly from the
  ICU, post procedures, or outside hospitals requiring an increased level of care
  and multisystem assessments and interventions
• Many times, the care results in multi-system involvement, which may
  include pulmonary, renal, endocrine and neurology
  
  

There are three cardiothoracic (CT) stepdown units at Duke University Hospital with typical nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:3. 

• Care for adult patients who are transitioning from the cardiothoracic ICU
• The patients require high acuity care with diagnoses such as pre/post
  cardiothoracic surgery, coronary artery bypass grafts, heart valve repair and
  replacements, aortic and aneurysm repairs, wedge resections, lobectomies,
  heart transplants, lung transplants, and ventricular assist devices
  
  

Incentives and benefits designed for you

Commitment Bonuses: Experienced registered nurses are eligible for a $15,000 commitment bonus in select units. New graduate nurses are eligible for a $5,000 commitment bonus in select cardiothoracic stepdown units.

Relocation Assistance: Up to $8,000 in relocation assistance is available to help experienced registered nurses with moving costs, if living 50 or more miles away from a Duke University Health System facility. Up to $3,000 in relocation assistance is available for new graduate nurses. 

Tuition Assistance: Nursing team members can receive tuition assistance of up to $5,250 per calendar year after just six months of full-time employment. 

In addition, nurses can take advantage of the RN Tuition Assistance Program, which contributes up to 90% of a benefits-eligible nurse's Duke University School of Nursing tuition for select master's and doctorate programs after three years of full-time employment. Duke University School of Nursing is ranked #1 for all of its participating master's and doctorate of nursing practice programs and specialties, and has the #2 overall doctorate of nursing practice program, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 graduate school rankings. 

Nurse Loan Forgiveness: Eligible nurses who work in Duke's three hospitals and associated ambulatory clinics, procedural areas, Duke HomeCare & Hospice, and Duke Primary Care can receive up to $25,000 for outstanding student loans for pre-licensure nursing education. 

Friends of Nursing Program: A recognition program that awards 38 nurses $1,000 toward nursing education, professional development, and conference presentations. Friends of Nursing also presents Nursing Grand Rounds for continuing education to improve patient care.

Nursing Career Ladder: This program helps advance team members' nursing careers with promotion.

Additional Bonuses: Team members can receive additional bonuses for continuing education certifications and for referring prospective team members to Duke Health.