Advice on Which Unit to Choose as GN to become CVICU RN

[cvrnstephanie, BSN, RN]

Hello everyone! I will be graduating on April 27th :) and have a few offers to start my nursing career. My end goal is CVICU. I absolutely LOVE cardiac. I consistently go out of my way to learn more as well as the newest innovations in the cardiac field - e.g., attend conferences, receive certifications such as EKG, 12-Lead, ETC. Currently, I have offers in:

(1) 60 bed Multisystem PCU (MSPCU) in Fl Hosp Orlando with a focus on pre-op cardiac patients since the unit recently partnered up with the cardiovascular institute. But they also take any and everything ortho, renal, etc.

(2) 20 bed MSPCU in Fl Hosp East Orlando that mostly gets the step-down ICU pts unlike the other 2 PCU's in the hospital. Also a cluster of patients.

(3) 20 bed Neuro/Cardiac PCU in Fl Hosp East Orlando with the obvious types of patients (I am not a huge neuro person lol)

(4) Osceola Regional Medical Center offered me a surgical floor which I kindly declined, but told the recruiter that I would love an opportunity to interview with the cardiac manager. When I had my interview, I only had a DON and 1 NM that stated that the rest of the managers are finishing their yearly eval's and couldn't attend today. Not a big fan of the hospital considering it's HCA

(5) 30 bed Cardiovascular Interventional Unit PCU at Fl Hosp Orlando with pts with AAA, lung transplants, post CABG, etc. I am considering this one and the next ->

(6) 30 bed MSICU at Fl Hosp Orlando with pts with CRRT, sepsis, complex general surgeries, etc. - typical MICU pts

Now with the 2 year contract, I can move laterally. Meaning if I want to go from CVPCU to CVICU, i will add time to the 2 year contract (e.g., 6 months in CVPCU to then CVICU, now I add 6 months to the 2 year contract). Rather than if I went from MSICU to CVICU, I will still honor my contract without having to add any additional time.

Which floor do you think will most prepare me to be a great CVICU nurse? I know the CIU will obviously give the cardiac pts, while the MSICU will help me with my drips. Both are amazing units and am so grateful for what God has provided for me! I truly appreciate everyone's advice plus for reading this entire entry! Lol

[tcvnurse, BSN, RN]

I would go for the CCU. Or, baring that I would try to get on an intermediate or cardiac step down unit. Does the CVICU not hire new grads?

[cvrnstephanie, BSN, RN]

I agree. I believe a step-down provides a great foundation for critical care. I just hate that after 1 year of transferring, I'll have to add anogher year to my contract I'm not really sure if Florida Hospital hires new grads into CVICU. That is something I'll have to look into, but I'm not holding my breath for it! Lol

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

I would do the ICU. Critical care experience is critical care experience. That is usually going to trump any step down or med-surg work history. It's always easier to take an ICU nurse and train them in a slightly different ICU than it is to take a step down/med-surg nurse and make them into an ICU nurse. Plus, ICU nurses can usually float and pick up shifts in other ICUs after 6mo-1 year so you could get your foot in the door that way. I worked MICU and went to neuro ICU, CTICU, etc.

[cvrnstephanie, BSN, RN]

Thank you for your advice Dodongo! I'm actually accepting a position that was recently offered to me in Cath Lab "Staging." Their term for pre and post-op pts. Here, we would get a mixture of IABP's, pacemakers, EPS pts, interventional radiology, etc. The director also told me that after 6mo-1y, I am able to float to CVICU since they consider Cath Lab to be "critical care" (or go into Cath Lab, but I am interested in CVICU). I am just nervous (yet very excited) as Cath Lab is a whole different animal! Lol Especially for a grad nurse! But, I am extremely motivated, and not scared to ask questions lol

[Snr1003]

I was curious how your job experience turned out! I am interviewing for a Cath Lab pre/post position!!