[love for nursing]

In May, I graduate with my BSN. I have been offered two positions, which are working on the telemetry floor or the cardiac unit step down floor. I do not know which one I should choose. I want to take the postion that will give me the most experience where I can advance to the coronary care unit or to the open heart recovery/unit. The positions are at the same hospital. I just do not want to take one and wish that I had taken the other.

[KristiePDX]

Choose the stepdown unit. It is a "stepdown" form the coronary recovery unit/coronary care. It will put you at the head of the list of applicants when you gain some experience and apply.

Where I work there is medical/tele that has Pts needing to be monitored but still stable cardiac wise with other medical things going on. The stepdown unit you Pts are sicker and you give a lot more IV cardiac meds, unstable rythems, post open hearts, pacemakers, MIs, ect. Stuff not on the medical tele floor. I vote for the stepdown.......

[love for nursing]

Thanks for the input. I have decided on the step down unit.

[CametoitlateTexan]

I faced the same choice and chose the stepdown unit. Very glad I did

[love for nursing]

I took the step down unit. Once I have my temporary license I can call and get on the schedule to start orientation. I just hope I do not have to wait long to take the NCLEX.

[Morettia2]

I want to hear about how your experience on the tele step down is..I work interventional cardiology/CCU step down for 9 mo. now. I work nights, I have a love/HATE relationship with my floor. Are you going to be working days or nights...i think it was a wise decision to go cardiac step-down, more exp. DEF. as a new nurse. GOOD LUCK and of you need any advice or need to vent we are here for ya!!!

[love for nursing]

I have not started yet, since I do not have my temporary license in hand. I am hoping that I receive it this week. I am ready to start work. It sucks that I can not even sit through the classroom orientation on blood borne, HIPPA, etc. until the hospital has a copy of the temporary license.

[spankssnowbunny]

I've have found in recent years that what most hospitals consider Step Down are really just Telemetry. When I first became a nurse, PCU took stable vents, drips, etc. In the last three hospitals I've been affiliated with, they have referred to their Telemetry Units as Step Down units put have not taken vents and very few cardiac drips.

Deciding between Step Down or Tele, you made the right choice with Step Down especially if the facility you are going to work out has a distinction between the two.......you are more apt to get a better experience/education in Step Down to better prepare for the area you really want to work in.