Critical Care Nursing Careers at MUSC

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) is a 23 bed mixed acuity Heart and Vascular unit. Eight of our patient rooms are dedicated to service ICU level patients including management of swan Ganz catheters, intra-aortic balloon pumps, Impellas, ventilated patients, and CRRT. The remaining 15 beds have the versatility to serve acute and intermediate level patients.  Our patient population consists of primarily Cardiology and Vascular surgery patients, and 5 West is also the home unit for surgical oncology and plastic surgery. This unit functions as the stepdown unit for the Ashley River Tower offering a higher level of care for the many specialties in this building. The nurses on this unit can manage a-lines, lumbar drains, and titrate cardiac drips.  Nurse: patient ratios range from 1:2-1:4 based on patient acuity.  This highly engaged team is innovative, dynamic, and fast-paced.

Ashley River Tower Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) is a 21-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit specializing in heart failure, VAD and heart transplant workups, LVAD, heartware, heart transplantation, double lung transplantation, cardiac surgeries, including coronary bypass, valve replacements and repairs, aortic dissection repairs, thoracic surgeries to include esophagectomies and pneumonectomies. We also have a lot of devices i.e. balloon pumps, centrimags/ECMO, and all heart ware, HMII, and HMIII. Because we are a specialized and high-paced unit, and we care for surgical and medical patients, orientation is pretty extensive. We also have the capabilities of reopening a chest at the bedside, placing chest tubes, thoracentesis/paracentesis, and other procedures that, in other places, may require going to the OR or procedural suite. There are always opportunities to develop and grow within the unit. There's shared governance and opportunities for growth, including relief or clinical staff leaders, preceptorships, and clinical ladder programs with promotion to RN II or RN III.

STBICU is the only combined critical care unit of its kind in the state of South Carolina. A total of 16 beds will expand to 22 beds within the next two years. The STBICU offers advanced critical care services for trauma and burn patients resulting from catastrophic injuries. Our nursing care is facilitated by multidisciplinary teams including but not limited to medical staff, fellows, residents, advanced practitioners, pharmacy, respiratory, and physical therapy to address all multi-system variances. The care we provide is differentiated by nurse-to-patient ratio, the need for advanced invasive monitoring, and the use of mechanical and pharmacological life-sustaining therapies (mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, hemodynamic monitoring, continuous dialysis). Nurse to patient ratio is 1:1-2.

Step into our prestigious Medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a distinguished 17-bed facility renowned for its exceptional expertise in managing complex medical cases. Our top-notch team of dedicated professionals has extensive experience and training, enabling us to excel in providing comprehensive treatment for multi-system organ failure, hemodynamic instability, sepsis, respiratory failure, and endocrine emergencies. Our ICU is equipped with cutting-edge technology and fosters a compassionate and patient-centered environment, ensuring that every individual receives tailored care addressing their unique needs and concerns throughout their journey to recovery. As a center of excellence, we are committed to delivering the utmost attention, support, and compassion to our patients and their families.

MSICU is a 18-bed unit that provides care to adult patients covering various medical and surgical patient populations. The various medical diagnoses include multi-system organ failure, hematology/oncology, pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, respiratory failure, post-lung transplants, acute cardiovascular pathologies such as acute coronary syndromes, unstable arrhythmias, acute decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, infective endocarditis, cardiac allograft rejection, and other acute valvular pathologies. This intensive care unit also has a sub-specialty in digestive disease and cares for patients with renal, endocrine, and liver disease, GI surgery and GI hemorrhage, pancreatitis, and islet cell transplants. In addition, MSICU/CICU cares for obstetric patients requiring ICU level of care. Staff members are trained in advanced hemodynamic monitoring, continuous renal replacement therapy, ECMO, pulmonary artery catheters, intra-aortic balloon pumps, impella CP/5.5, and aggressive ventilator therapy. The MSICU has earned the Silver Beacon Award.  

Meduflex is the inpatient Float Pool at MUSC. Our primary focus is coverage for callouts and extended leaves of absence (oftentimes family leave). Depending on the role, we provide patient care at all four locations downtown: University Hospital, Ashley River Tower, the Institute of Psychiatry, and Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Provides nursing care to patients using the nursing process (assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation). Directs and leads other assigned team members and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to provide age/developmentally appropriate care following nursing standards of care and practice. Provide patient/family-centered care using the nursing process and focusing on the physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, religious, and environmental needs. This includes providing for the assessment, development of nursing diagnoses, outcome identification, planning, implementation of interventions, coordination of care, health teaching and promotion, and evaluation of goals and interventions consistent with the policies of MUSC. Maintains a safe, therapeutic, and healing environment by ensuring patient privacy and responsive, respectful, accepting, and professional behavior. Demonstrates the ability to function professionally through active participation in a professional practice model. This includes participating in shared governance, adherence to standards of care, peer review and professional development promoting leadership and clinical excellence, effective team skills, autonomous practice, acknowledgment of accountability for actions, and critical thinking. Coordinates the effective and efficient delivery of patient care services by applying care management principles. Identifies clinical priorities and initiates action to improve patient outcomes. Demonstrates ability to function in a professional practice model through active participation in shared governance, promotion of a healthy work environment, and acceptance of personal responsibility for professional growth.

The 82 bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is located in our MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital. The Neonatal ICU is the regional referral center for this area, providing care to premature and sick neonates. The Neonatal ICU provides medical and surgical care with most common diagnoses including prematurity, respiratory distress, and neonatal surgical conditions. In addition to respiratory and nutritional support, the NICU provides ECMO/CRRT and surgical support. Pediatric Palliative care is available as needed. The Neonatal ICU is located on the 5th floor of the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Hospital.  The Neonatal ICU also supports an infant home monitoring program for infants requiring monitoring upon discharge. All Neonatal ICU beds are monitored beds. Under general supervision, the Registered Nurse II provides individualized, goal-directed patient care to families and patients at the competent level utilizing the principles and practices of the nursing process; delivers safe and effective care and interacts with other members of the health care team to achieve desired results.

Main Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NSICU) is a 23-bed unit located on the 8th floor of the Main hospital. NSICU is designed and organized to meet the special needs of patients with acute neurosurgical and neurological illnesses and injuries. All neurological patients will be co-managed by the neurocritical care providers and the neurosurgery or neurology faculty. The age groups served are geriatric, adults, and adolescents fifteen years or greater. 

Pediatric Heart Center unit is a 29 bed Beacon Award-Winning unit and is the referral center for all major pediatric cardiac surgery in South Carolina. Average Daily Census on the unit is 26, with a blend of cardiac surgical and medical diagnoses. The Heart Center cares for patients with congenital heart disease of any age based on care needs. Common procedures associated with this unit's care include cardiac surgery, Ventricular Assist Devices, Heart Transplant, cardiac catheterization, and all medical diagnoses associated with cardiac care for the children in South Carolina. In addition to ventilator and cardiac support, the unit provides ECMO/CRRT and additional complex supportive therapies. Pediatric palliative care is available as needed. The staffing mix includes Registered Nurses, Patient Care Technicians, and Unit Secretaries with ancillary supportive services such as Respiratory Therapy, Pediatric Dietitians, and Pediatric Pharmacist available as needed. All beds are monitored beds.

The Pediatric Intensive Care unit is a 28 bed unit providing intensive and intermediate care to children ages 0- 18 from across the state of South Carolina. The unit cares for patients with a blend of medical and surgical diagnoses. Common diagnoses include, but are not limited to, respiratory compromise, trauma, post- operative surgical patients requiring immediate intensive care support, and neurology/neurosurgery. In addition to ventilator and cardiac support, the unit provides ECMO/CRRT, renal or peritoneal dialysis and additional complex supportive therapies. Pediatric Palliative care is available as needed. The staffing mix includes Registered Nurses, Patient Care Technicians, and Unit Secretaries with therapeutic supportive services such as Respiratory Therapy, Pediatric Dietitians, and Pediatric Pharmacist available as needed. All PICU beds are monitored beds.

The Specialty Medical ICU is an 18 bed ICU located on a newly renovated unit in the historic Main Hospital. The patient population consists of a mixed population to include pulmonary, renal, hepatic, GI bleeds, endocrine, overdose, and infectious disease (to include COVID). The unit is also the designated Sharing Hope organ donor unit. The team thrives on great communication, collaboration, and a culture to provide safe, high-quality, patient family centered care. The variety of patients on the unit keeps our work fresh and new. Working in this unit allows the RN to use a wide variety of both clinical and critical thinking skills.

Once we receive your nursing interest form, we send it to our recruiters in your selected location(s). They will contact you for more information and to schedule an interview, usually within 48 to 72 hours. If you have questions in the meantime, please reach out to our nursing recruitment team.

Yes! Ask our care team members about what it's like to work at MUSC Health.

Our recruiters are also happy to answer your questions.

• For Charleston area, email the nurse recruitment team
• For Midlands area, email Heather Catoe, Nurse Recruiter
• For Florence area, email Shannon Shaw, Health Care Recruiter
• For Lancaster area, email Megan Benton, Clinical Recruiter

We have many opportunities for nurses of all experience levels, from new graduates to seasoned professionals.

For new graduates, we have a dedicated residency program to ease the transition from student to professional. Designed to build your confidence, the year-long program consists of monthly classes taught by subject matter experts.

For nurses with more experience, we are pleased to offer the clinical ladder program, which provides a pathway for advancement.

Whatever your ideal nursing role is, you’ll likely find it at MUSC. Looking for a different day every day? Try our emergency department at MUSC Health University Medical Center’s Level I trauma center. Want to be part of the team that opens a brand-new unit? You can do that with us, too. Search our nursing job openings.