[SFRN]

Hey everyone,

Happy Holidays! I have a couple of questions about the cardiac icu at Stanford. Anyone work there? If so I would love to here your thoughts on the unit.
1.) Did you go through the training program? If so, how was it?
2.) What are some of the challenges working on the unit?

Thanks!

[Needa Nurse]

I work at Stanford. I'm not sure if you are asking about the post open heart unit (North ICU) or the CCU. If you are asking about the CCU, I can give you info since that is my unit. I have worked there for 5 years. The unit is D1 and is divided with 8 CCU beds and 14 intermediate ICU (CSU) beds. The CCU is capable of managing vents, IABPs, CVVH, patients with rejection of their transplanted heart, and a multitude of vasoactive drips. The stepdown (CSU)side can manage select vasoactive drips and technically do not titrate them. CSU gets S/P MI, cardiomyopathies, CHF, S/P ablations, pacemaker or AICD insertions, percardial drains, patients waiting for a heart, and arrhthymias. Pt nurse ratio in CCU is 2:1 or 1:1, CSU 4:1 (ratio changes to 3:1 on 1/1/08). I love working there. The all RN staff is capable of working both sides of the floor.

As to your question, I came to Stanford as an experienced RN (20+ years) so I did not require a critical care course. I believe there is a critical care course. On my unit, there is extensive competency based orientation and mentoring.

Hope to see you there!

[SFRN]

Thanks for the info. I will be working on the North ICU....but it is good to hear there is extensive training for those new to adults. So, if you know anything about the North ICU that would be great--I know there is 25 beds, and I obviously have met the nurse manager and we talked about patient population....thanks again