Advice for the New Cardiac RN

[ElizabethRN10]

I just have been hired on a cardiac unit, and I am a new grad. I just was wondering if anyone would have advice on how to best be prepared? The unit is a telemetry unit:redbeathe.

Thanks for any help.

[tgary08]

I have also been hired as a new grad on a caerdiac unit. Thanks everyone for the information. I'll be sure to keep everything that was said in the back of my mind when I start in a few weeks!

[editor2rn]

You only had 2 weeks of orientation?

That's crazy!

[michellez123]

I also will be starting on a cardiac/tele floor very soon! All the advice is very helpful! I am very excited about this opportunity :)

It's interesting that you only had orientation for 2 weeks, I feel that is alittle short, but maybe thats because you caught on so fast! I know I will need more time than that on orientation.. :)

Thanks again for the help!

[tcvnurse, BSN, RN]

Two weeks of orientation for a new grad is criminal IMO. My facility has a three month period for new grads and they attend a boatload of classes including the Core Heart Center curriculum.

That said, my advice is this: treat the patient not the monitor. What you think is VTach might be someone brushing his teeth, receiving chest physio from RT, or simply tapping on the V lead. ( psych patient don't ask)

Always ask for help when you need it, even if just bouncing scenarios off another nurse. I call that 'Nursing by Committee' :)

[pitaya]

I just got hired as a cardiac nurse!!!! I start in less than 2 weeks with orientation and classes. :) So excited...and terrified!

[JPChi]

Question what interests folks in the Cardiac unit?

[alexis413]

New nurse... starting on the Cardiac stepdown in a week. I'm petrified, but hoping to prepare myself just a bit with the tips here. Thanks everyone!