Am I ready?

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Specializes in PACU.

Hi everyone!;)

I just accepted a position in a CVICU.

I have about a year med/surg, and close to that in tele experience.

I had a peer interview the other day and the unit seems really great with teamwork. Really seems like a good unit of great people.

Most of the RN's have alot more experience that me. I guess I just feel like a new grad all over again.

I won't start for a few weeks. I will have a 3 month orientation.

I've always wanted to be in an ICU setting, so I'm really excited, but definitely nervous. I really want to be an asset to this unit and pull my own weight. I've started to do research and study at home. I know they will have some classes for me also.

How long till you feel pretty confident?

I've been reading ALOT of stickies here lately.:nuke:

One more thing- the heart program in this hospital is fairly new, so MOST of my experience will be with typical (lol) ICU patients. Which, like I said, is new to me.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

You are going to be fine!! Oh my gosh, you have a great background of experience to build on in ICU. And No it won't be like you are a new grad again, because those basic assessment skills are what is the basis of good ICU nursing as well. You are just adding some new skills on top of your already impressive skill base. I don't want to oversimplify it, but don't forget that you have already taken care of a lot of sick and fragile pts. The great thing about ICU, is you know who your really sick pts are (all of them) and you can really concentrate on your one or two pts and make sure all is being done for them to point them toward recovery.

Good luck and have fun. Keep calm and remember that you are ALREADY a competent nurse.

:yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in healthcare12 years.

I started the icu/ccu tonight love it people are very nice I have alot to learn as far as drugs and abg ect. but I think it will all come in time I have been an RN for a year in med surg so I know how you feel so let me know how it goes for you

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It's a lot of hardwork and it's stressful but keep your head up and absorb as much as you possibly can. You will be amazed how much you will learn in your first year in CVICU

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Specializes in healthcare12 years.

I started in the icu/ccu last week I love it but I feel like a new grad.

I didnt have tele experience but it is coming along i started studying on my own, before I got the job, but I guess everything including the one million drips will come in time and the more I do something the better I will be with it.

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Specializes in PACU.

Thanks for the replies!!!

I start a week from Monday. I'm still excited and nervous!!!;)

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Specializes in CVICU, PACU, OR.

I was a student nurse on a tele unit for 4 years and a RN for 6 months before I transferred to cardiac recovery. That experience was sooo helpful!

Good luck to you. I hope you enjoy it!

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This will probably be a unpopular opinion but w/e.

Yes you are ready, you were ready as soon as you graduated. Your med/surg experience while nice, might handicap you the first year or so. You have to unlearn a lot of things you learned on the floor. The environment of a unit, and especially CVICU is so different. You will be making many, many decisions on your own.

As someone who has precepted both new grads and veteran RNs in CVICU, I find new grads easier to precept. Experienced nurses often have hangups and habits that just don't work with hearts.

Just be open to changing how you do things. Be a sponge and figure out who really knows what they're doing and who just thinks they know.

You'll be fine. You should never feel totally confident, thats when you get into trouble. After serveral years I still don't know everything -- that is the best part about CVICU, always something to learn.

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