http://allnurses.com CCU nursing involves care of the cardiac critical care patients who may have a myriad of acute heart-related health issues, often resulting in planned or emergent surgical intervention. Many of these patients are post-open heart surgery patients that require vigilant constant monitoring, having had a CABG, valve replacement, or other surgical repair of the cardiac system. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:59:52 GMT vBulletin 60 http://img.an-file.info/misc/rss.jpg http://allnurses.com http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/student-needs-advice-440113-new.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:34:02 GMT Hi guys! I'm currently a student that is interested about going into nursing. Currently we're being assigned a 5-7 page essay on something we would be learning for our future career.

I've been having trouble finding free sources if any, and to be perfectly honest my essay is dued on Monday. :/ I'm not even sure if I can go on with my topic. I've been trying to find something solid for a week or two now.. It's still kind of my fault for not taking control.. Anyways.

I am considering two topics currently:

I wanted to know about nurse intervention in the event of a Heart Attack (myocardial Infarction) from triage and assessing symptoms, to treatment and post MI treatment and education...

Or my last ditch effort is to write an essay on Florence Nightingale

Any advice on resources or opinions on topics? Is the first one even valid? Can anyone give me an idea what a nurse learn and does for his/her job? Should I focus on something else?

I need help!!!

Thanks guys :D ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) Twiggi http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/student-needs-advice-440113.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/ccus-willing-train-438341-new.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:22:41 GMT I've been communicating with a nurse recruiter about a job in the CCU. I have no critical care experience but from the way it sounds they are willing to train. I want to get into the NICU but have had no luck thusfar, I am wondering if CCU would be a good learning experience to help prepare me for the change to NICU further down the road?
My father died in the CCU after a long greuling month. I kind of feel a connection with this area of nursing and have a lot of respect for it, though it's not what I see myself doing 10 yrs. from now. ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) TreehuggerRN http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/ccus-willing-train-438341.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/need-help-critical-437028-new.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:36:17 GMT Hi everyone, I need to do a presentation about critical care. Any suggestions? I know somebody... Hi everyone,

I need to do a presentation about critical care. Any suggestions? I know somebody is already doing ablation, so anything but that would be helpful.

Thanks! ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) RN Mel http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/need-help-critical-437028.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/fib-metropolol-diltiazem-436755-new.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:22:49 GMT Situation:

Rhythm a-fib, with rate 100-130's
Systolic lood pressure: 82 and 91 in different arms
NS going at 100/hr (for 2 days!)

Diltiazem drip 5mg/hr
Metropolol 50mg BID

I HELD metropolol d/t blood pressure, but I'm keeping an eyeball on the rate.

Up diltiazem to 10mg/hr about 5 hrs into shift after heart rate reaches occaional (not sustained) 140's.

Pt had screw put in femer, and was out of PACU for 2 hours when I got on shift.

Systolic bp 2 more times during shift is 90's, 1 time making it to 102.

MY QUESTION: WHICH MEDICATION WOULD YOU HAVE HELD AND WHY?

I asked my supervisor/ manager of the unit just how much diltiazem affects b/p and asked her what she would've done in my position. I've been a cardiac nurse for 1.5 years and have always held the metropolol if they are on a dilt drip, because I thought that dilt was THE way of controlling rate in afib. Anybody want to share their brain with a greenhorn?:twocents: ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) buddiage http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/fib-metropolol-diltiazem-436755.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/goals-ccu-preceptorship-435863-new.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:57:27 GMT Well, I got my first choice of having a CCU placement for the next 7 weeks. The anticipation almost... Well, I got my first choice of having a CCU placement for the next 7 weeks. The anticipation almost killed me, but was sooooo happy and relieved to get the spot. Graduation- December 21. YIKES!
I think this is a HUGE opportunity for learning...and I intend to take advantage of it! I have finished all of my "pre-internship" assignments but one...and am feeling a little stumped. I will be talking this over with my preceptor as well, but...we need to do an assignment regarding what our goals for this time are. Obviously, I want to learn as much as I can and not suck! I also want to present a good, professional image and be a competent beginner looking ahead to new levels. Those goals are a little broader than what I think our instructor contacts are looking for, so I guess I am asking for realistic ideas. They told us to think big, but this is an area of course where thinking big could be totally unrealistic. But- I tend to sell myself short wondering what I can do, capability, etc- just getting the placement is a nice little positive reinforcement as there weren't many spots to be had. The unit is titled CCU but is also probably combined with MICU patients- they have a separate SICU, but sometimes it just depends on who has a room. I spent two days of advanced clinical there, and really enjoyed the discussions, the atmosphere, and the learning, and especially the way those I was with took on their role of teacher.
Somewhere between selling myself short and delusions of grandeur there needs to be a happy medium! Anybody got any ideas? ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) JRN72 http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/goals-ccu-preceptorship-435863.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/after-cath-reperfusion-435735-new.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:51:48 GMT I get the cardiac cells are "irritable." I don't understand why oxygenated blood would cause dysrhythmias when the heart muscle needs the oxygen. What is going on here? Is there something happening with the electrolytes? Is there lactic acid buildup and then too quick of a shift with oxygenated blood? Someone help me out, please. ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) buddiage http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/after-cath-reperfusion-435735.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/should-i-invest-435225-new.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:26:53 GMT Hi, I was thinking of buying the littmans master cardiology stethoscope. But its really expensive... Hi,
I was thinking of buying the littmans master cardiology stethoscope. But its really expensive and wanted to know if it was worth it. I have a light weight littman and i think its not doing a great job! I also was thinking about taking a class on stethoscope assessment skills...do you think this is worth the time? or is it a skill you develop over time? ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) erin01 http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/should-i-invest-435225.html http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/fiberoptic-iabp-433320-new.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:33:44 GMT Hi everyone! My unit has recently changed to the fiberoptic version of the datascope IABP. We all... Hi everyone! My unit has recently changed to the fiberoptic version of the datascope IABP. We all remember being told in the inservice that there is no need to flush with the fiberoptic, but none of us can remember why. We checked the website and have found nothing. Also, the new IABP are still coming up with a pressure bag attached. Why is this if we are not needed to flush? Thanks a lot! ]]> CCU Nursing Forum - (Coronary / Cardiac) ddml06 http://allnurses.com/ccu-nursing-forum/fiberoptic-iabp-433320.html