Advice needed.....dislike cardiac

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Hi, I am new here and just got transfered (not by choice) to a cardiac step down unit. They closed my med-surg floor. I just graduated in May and said I would never work on a caridac floor....I just have never had any interest in it. Well, here I am now on this floor. The nurses are so different and I am not passionate about cardiac stuff. I do like the ratio of 4 patients to nurse however. I am wondering if I stay if I will grow to like it or if I should just go somewhere else now and not waste my time. Could I please have some advice???? I am so stressed about it!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hi,

I am a new grad nurse. I am working on a telemetry/medical floor. When I was in school, I used to say that I would never do cardiac because I really wasn't interested in it. That changed my last semester in school, when I did a clinical on this unit.

I understand your feelings, because most cardiac patients are very sick and there is lots of stuff to remember, and alot of patient teaching to do as well.

What I have found is that anywhere you go in a hospital, you will encounter pts with cardiac issues, whether its med surg, peds, L&D, etc. So really, you can't ignore the heart as it is an essential part of the total biology of life. I happen to enjoy it, since it is an extremely challenging unit. I am constantly learning new things, and really using all the things I learned in school. I dont' know what you mean by the nurses being different, but I hope it is because they are very dedicated to pt care, and ensuring that their pts are ok. A heart pt can go "South" in the blink of an eye so we really have to be paying attention to whats going on, from labs, vitals, and assessments. Strangely enough, it is this kind of environment that I thrive in.

My best advice to you is to find out if there are classes offered by your hospital on ECG interpretation. Recognizing abnormal heart rhythms is essential to working on a cardiac unit. Also knowing your heart meds is vital. Know why they are used, the action, and especially when not to give them (for example, I never give Lopressor if the pts systolic B/P is

Hope this helps!

Amy

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Try this job for awhile. Set a time frame, if you don't change your mind in

6 months, then move on. For now accept the challenge and give those patients

great care. A step down unit is a great place to learn. You will care for so many

different types of patients. We changed a med/surg unit to a tele unit about

10 years ago and the staff didn't like it, but many of those nurses stayed and

are still working on that unit. You are a great nurse and those patients will

be glad you are their nurse!!

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Specializes in neuro, med/surg/, cardiac care.

I have to agree with cathlab, set yourself a timeframe and give it a chance. I have been working in cardiac for 10 years and love it. Most of the cardiac patients have many medical problems as well, and often our patients are post surgery patients who have had MIs or have gone into CHF, so there is certainly alot to be learned in/from this area. Plus if you can get a good handle on rhythms then your're laughing, that may help you get in elsewhere in the future. Good luck to you with whatever you do decide!!;)

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Agree with above to give it a little time.

I absolutely hated OB after graduation. When I applied for a position close to home, the only available area was L and D. I took the position.

Fell in love with OB and later, became an OB-GYN NP. ;)

So, you never know.

You might want to take an ECG course and ACLS (and/or, ACLS EP) to expand your knowledge base. Maybe allay many fears of the unit as well.

Good luck. Hope it works out for the best for you.

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

I agree with the OPs-give it some time. You can learn so much, and as you know, all body systems are integrated. Without the main system (heart), the rest really can't do much.;)

Think of the heart as the hub in a wheel and all of the other systems as spokes in the wheel. You will be astonished when you discover how much you are learning daily, and you will have a real edge on your critical thinking!

As far as the established staff goes, don't suck up to them, and try not to annoy them, but use them as resources any time that you have a question. Most cardiac nurses are willing to help others learn, if they look and sound as though they really are interested.:nurse:

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

What I love about people on monitors, is that at a glance you know that they are alive or not (there is a thing called PEA, but it is rare). For me, that is always reassuring....hehehe

Hang in there for a while...but if it is not your niche...that is perfectly OK!!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
(there is a thing called PEA, but it is rare).

Not so rare as one would think.;) I have many patients, post arrest, who will be in PEA.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Not so rare as one would think.;) I have many patients, post arrest, who will be in PEA.

Post arrest, certainly, but most telemetry patients....not so much...

In 2 1/2 years of telemetry, personally, I never saw it on tele.... post arrest...yes...

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Specializes in Cardiac, home care, management.

Having the monitors is nice, but always check the patient. We get too complacent with machinery sometimes.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Having the monitors is nice, but always check the patient. We get too complacent with machinery sometimes.

...you are absolutely right, I didn't want to suggest otherwise. But what I love is between hourly rounds you know pretty muchhow they are doing. You can even tell by artifact if they are moving around and are probably awake...I don't know I just feel soooo much more secure with monitored patients versus non-monitored....

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.
Having the monitors is nice, but always check the patient. We get too complacent with machinery sometimes.

When I was first a new (and only) LPN among only RNs on my tele floor the very first thing they taught me was not to rely on the tele, no matter what, and to always check the patient. It applies to any kind of electronic equipment, not just cardiac telemetry.

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