CVICU Nursing

Nurses in the CVICU at Children’s of Alabama offer specialized nursing care to children with acquired and congenital heart disease from day of birth until adulthood. Management of children undergoing surgical repairs, cardiac catheterizations, transplant evaluations, and medical treatment is part of our daily practice.

In conjunction with our provider colleagues, the approximately 120 nurses in the CVICU are regularly involved in quality initiatives through clinical innovation that result in improved patient outcomes. At Children’s of Alabama, family-centered care is an important part of who we are. Multi-disciplinary, family-centered, nurse-led rounds occur multiple times per day, and cardiac-specific providers are available in-house 24/7.

The 20-bed CVICU is a state-of-the-art intensive care unit designed to accommodate bedside procedures and family involvement, with 4 dedicated ECMO suites. Nurses are staffed at a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio, depending on patient acuity. All CVICU nurses complete an extensive cardiac-focused orientation, generally ranging from 12-20 weeks, aimed at solidifying the achievement of excellent patient care, specific to our specialized patient population. Staff are trained to manage a variety of patient statuses and devices such as post-transplantation, open sternum, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ventricular assist devices (VADs), and dialysis. 
 

CV Nursing Leadership   

Laura Needham, MSHA, BSN, RN, CENP
Division Director, Inpatient Nursing Services

Courtney Lawless, MSN, RN
Director of Nursing, CVICU

Jermaine Dunn, MSHQS, BSN, RN
Assistant Director of Nursing, CVICU

Heather Williams, BSN, RN, CNML
Director of Nursing, CCU