I want to be a CVIC nurse.

Specialties Cardiac

Published

Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.

When I was in NS, I had a couple of clinicals in the CVICU. I was absolutely amazed and intrigued by the intricacy of it all. I said to myself, "I want to work here someday." Now that I have almost 2 years of RN experience under my belt - one year of telemetry experience - I feel as though I am ready to jump higher hurdles. I'm currently working in LTC on a skilled rehab hall. I love my residents, but I'm not feeling challenged. I like to be challenged. I love to learn new things. So, here's my question: How do I make myself 'marketable' to a CVIC nurse manager? This is my goal. It may not happen tomorrow, or next week, or next month, but this is what I'm aiming for. How can I better prepare myself for ICU nursing? I guess what I'm asking is how can I land a job in CVIC? Is it just the luck of the draw? Will my time in LTC count against me? I have a friend who just got a job in CVIC fresh out of nursing school with no healthcare experience (aside from nursing clinicals) whatsoever, so I know that experience isn't an absolute must, although I know it's preferred. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. :)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

You've had almost two years of nursing experience and you're on your second job. One of the things I would advise is to stay where you are for two years. Nurse managers are somewhat leery of hiring nurses who job hop. Unless you've had a really good reason for changing jobs -- such as your husband's job transferred him out of state or your hospital merged with another and your job was eliminated, I'd start by making myself look like a stable, dependable employee. (Or you can move to a different state -- which gives you a good reason to quit your present job, I guess. ;) )

Many nurse managers aren't looking for ICU experience when they hire a new nurse -- my manager says "We can teach them to do the job. What I'm looking for is someone we'll want to work with." We're looking for someone with a history of going above and beyond. We want someone who will be dependable, show up in a snowstorm or a hurricane if that's when you're scheduled to work, accept the rotating shifts and the necessity to work Christmas without complaining and be flexible in scheduling. We're looking for someone who is willing to serve on committees. The best way to probe that you're willing to serve on committees is to serve on one now. Be ready to talk about how you've saved your employer some money, streamlined a process or updated a procedure.

And you can demonstrate your interest in CVICU by getting some continuing education on cardiopulmonary diseases, cardiac surgery, ventricular assist devices. With more and more patients out there with assist devices, and more and more of them living longer, they're going to be showing up in LTC soon if they haven't already. Find out what they are, what they do, how they work and how to take care of a patient with an LVAS.

Good luck! I'd love to have an orientee with solid nursing experience.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Well... I've had more than 2 RN jobs, if you want to know the truth. I don't know if the reason for my 'job hopping' is a good one, but I had a high-risk pregnancy that resulted in my inability to work my scheduled hours. I missed a lot of work. As a result, I was not able to return to that job after maternity leave. Life happens. It was unfortunate, but it was out of my control.

With that being said, I am a flexible employee. I'm always willing to stay over and help out, or to help out on other units when I'm having a slow day. As a matter of fact, we just had a snowstorm and I made it to work on time every day (inspite of wiping out on the ice one of those days). I also signed up to work on Christmas. :)

I appreciate your feedback, I really do, but I don't see myself staying at this job for 2 years. Like I said, I'm not being challenged. I don't get to use my nursing skills. If I lose those skills, what use will I be to an acute care or critical care unit?

Again, thank you for your feedback! I am taking all of this into consideration.

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In my neck of the woods, experience on a tele floor will really help make you more marketable to a CVICU position. Get comfortable working with post-interventional patients, arrhythmias, etc. Get your ACLS. Get your PCCN. And, as Ruby suggested, stick with one job for at least 2 years if at all humanly possible.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.
In my neck of the woods, experience on a tele floor will really help make you more marketable to a CVICU position. Get comfortable working with post-interventional patients, arrhythmias, etc. Get your ACLS. Get your PCCN. And, as Ruby suggested, stick with one job for at least 2 years if at all humanly possible.

Thank you for your feedback! I want to get some continuing education, but not really sure how to go about it. Any suggestions?

Like I said to the previous poster, I worry that my time in LTC will be a setback and will actually count against me. I'm not really learning anything. I'm simply a pill pusher. I understand where you're coming from, though. Having multiple jobs doesn't look good on a resume. Although, I will say the job I had while in nursing school, I was there for 6 years. My 'job hopping' is r/t to unfortunate circumstances that were out of my control.

Again, thank you!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Thank you for your feedback! I want to get some continuing education, but not really sure how to go about it. Any suggestions?

Like I said to the previous poster, I worry that my time in LTC will be a setback and will actually count against me. I'm not really learning anything. I'm simply a pill pusher. I understand where you're coming from, though. Having multiple jobs doesn't look good on a resume. Although, I will say the job I had while in nursing school, I was there for 6 years. My 'job hopping' is r/t to unfortunate circumstances that were out of my control.

Again, thank you!

If you're not learning in the LTC, you're not doing it right. Every job can teach you something, if you're open to it.

Although you previously had a solid record as a stable employee, your nursing job history paints you as a job hopper with attendance problems. That's going to count more against you than your time in LTC possibly could.

As far as continuing education -- if you don't already belong to a nursing organization, join one. They have myriad opportunities for continuing education. Check your local acute care facilities for seminars and classes. If there's a nursing school near you, check there for continuing education opportunities. Good luck.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Thank you!

I guess I've got a lot to think about. I've got the rest of my life to be a nurse. I was just getting concerned about my current job, because our census is so incredibly low and they may start laying off. I want a backup plan. I've got a family to support. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Child & Adolescent Psych.

Great advice, I hope to become a CVICU nurse someday. :) Thanks!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.
Great advice, I hope to become a CVICU nurse someday. :) Thanks!

Best of luck to you!

I received an offer from CICU (totally unexpected) right before the holidays. I'm not sure that I'm going to take it, though.

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