sounds like your manager doesn't not want you to have that job, she sounds worried that you will leave.
Fear not. I've been to many interviews; worked in 4 different CCU's in 2 states. I also taught critical care for a large university in the CCU & other ICU's at my local hospital. I was never grilled. I was asked questions about my clinical experience. I answered clinical questions pertaining to hemodynamics, cardio-vascular medications, care of arterial sheaths, IABPs, PA catheters, vented patients... Now granted you are coming from a floor so you couldn't answer questions on critical care since you've not been through a critical course (have you?). This is why they will put you through a good orientation with a good mentor to help you learn. When I came out of my generic BSN in '89, I too didn't know the answers, but being that I had spent 3 months in the dept before I graduated, I was learning the medications. Back then it was Heparin, Dopamine, Tridil, Dobutamine, etc. Pick a good critical care book. Check the threads in this specialty for reference suggestions as I have placed some on the thread as I recall. Get a CCU pocket guide from your local book store for <$20. I just gave one to a nurse friend of mine who has been in practice as long as I have. But she is going to work in the Chest Pain Center of the ER more & wanted a quicker reference for her own knowledge base.
Now you'll need to brush up on the above meds plus Lovenox, t-PA, the statins, B-blockers, ACE-Inhibitors. Don't sweat this. If the job doesn't work out, you've only made yourself more valuable as a team member. Plus, find a cardiologist or CRNP that you trust & tell them of your interest. That can only help you. I still have cardiologists that are my colleagues whom are annoyed that I am now working in the PACU. They want me back in the CCU.
Originally Posted by ItalianRN
You have plenty of experience. Just keep the open mind & heart to learn daily & confidence to jump in because you will work so very hard. The key is to work smarter not harder. Also, make friends in the CCU. Tell them if they are doing something interesting that you might like to see to give you a yell. I've gone to other dept's & observed new procedures. We are there to learn & assist.
Once again I'll cross my fingers, say a prayer & hope good fortune finds it's way to you.
I'll cross my fingers for you!
I'm concerned about the clinical questions they will ask me.
When I told my manager that I was considering the CCU, she tried to discourage me by asking me several extremely difficult & some ridiculous questions. When I didn't know the answers, she told me that I need to be able to look at my patient's charts in 5 min, at the beginning of my shift, & know what's going on, why & what needs to be done to correct the problem. I should know all this in 5 min of seeing a patient's chart for the first time & not even seeing the patient yet.
I learned a lot on this floor, but I'm still learning every day.
My manager told me that I will get "grilled" by the manager & ccu nurses in the interview. I'm trying not to let her discourage me, but it did scare me a little. My co-worker who went to CCU a few months ago told me that it sounds like my manager just doesn't want to lose me.
Any questions you could think of or topics I should brush up on, would be appreciated.
Thank you.[/quote]
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