Cardiac nurses please :)

Specialties CCU

Published

I will be a new grad in April of this year and could really use some guidance from experienced nurses...

Despite me being a new grad, I was also initially an LPN for 5 years, 3 years in the Emergency department. I am currently on a med/surg ward and really not feeling challenged. I wonder if the fast pace of the emerge that I have grown accustomed to has ruined me for a regular ward...so...

I was thinking when I finish my preceptorship, I may want to try cardiac nursing. It is something that has always interested me, and I may be mistaken, but I think besides learning about ECG's, telemetry, arrhythmias, etc (which really interests me), there is an important teaching component when working with the patient and their family. I think like many nurses, I want to make a difference where I am. I feel I have a lot to contribute and love working with patients...as cheesy as that sounds :specs:

Any information about your experience as a cardiac nurses would be very helpful.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Go for it! Work where your passion is- I'm sure you'll be a great addition to any cardiac floor. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Cardiac can be very challenging, and there is a lot of teaching as well. I love cardiac.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Post Anesthesia, ICU, ER.

Grad,

Cardiac is one of the more rewarding jobs in nursing, because more often than not, your patient will leave the hospital in better shape than they'd been in for years. There are lots of teaching opportunities with cardiac patients, be it smoking cessation, diet modifications, or even medications teaching, the patients are often times WANTING to know how they can change their lives, and are willing to put forth the effort to improve their lives. Know you drugs, especially the various anti-hypertensives, and how they work, understand the role of Aspirin and Plavix and why they are so important to the cardiac patient. Learn the patterns of ECG's, and know what Ischemia and Infarction look like on one. I've spent most of my career caring for cardiac patients and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Specializes in CVICU.

hi you are going to talk a good decision and it is having allot of information keep it up you can also use this http://rnbob.tripod.com/#Section_3_Cardiology_in_Critical_Care it will help you thank you

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