cardiac step down as a new grad

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Hi, I graduate in 2 weeks. I have 2 interviews next week, one is med surg cardiac step down and the other is a cardio floor with LVADs and ventilators. Both arare at the cleveland clinic. I am nervous and also excited!!! The reason why I can interview for these is because I was an EMT in the past. However, I completed a 400 hour externship and did my 120 hour transitions on general pediatric floors because this is what I really want to do. However, currently in my area there are not many openings and with this economy and how hard it is to get a nursing job as a new grad, I am determined to take any job. I have lobed cardio all thru school. My question, do you think taking one of these jobs if it is offered is a wise choice for me??? I feel very inexperienced because all of my extra time has been spent in peds. I did very well with that. I understand that there will be a huge learning challenge for me to start on a cardiac step down floor as a new grad. Any advice?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

If your not dedicated to an ICU setting and the amount of learning it takes to take care of pt's with LVAD's I say go for the stepdown unit. But, make sure you ask lots of questions are your interviews and determine what is the right fit for you.Good Luck!

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

The cleveland clinic is an awesome place if you get your foot in the door. It is about 90 min from me and the students from our area that get jobs there learn so much that whatever floor you choose will be an incredible learning experience. If you want to get into peds have you tried akron childrens? Any who if you choose to stay at the cc I would do the stepdown. Telemetry experience will benefit whatever route you choose, cc is basically a hospital city, so humongous that you could get lost if you need help in the icu. I'm not saying you could not handle it or you wouldn't have great team members but this is what I would do if starting out again.

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Specializes in cardiac.

I came from cardiothoracic surg stepdown at the clinic, as a new grad. I got so much valuable experience from that unit. It can be intense, but so interesting, especially if your interested in cardiac. This type of floor included post op care, telemetry, trach/vent experience, exposure to VADs, cardio and even some med surg too. I have never regretted my decision to make this my first nursing job. Once you interview, I believe they suggest shadowing for a few hrs, I would definitely recommend this! Let me know if you have any other questions, I would be happy to help, good luck with your decision.

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Thank you all for your replies!!! I am very excited and nervous for the interviews tomorrow. I interview on j83 and j53!!! is that a floor that you worked on Flashgirl??? I love cardiac, ever since i worked as an EMT i was facinated. But I also love working with children.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

The possibilities you have lined up seem great! I was also an EMT (only for about a year) before I became a nurse and I love all the critical care stuff.

I worked in adult ortho for almost a year before having a short stint in pediatrics (2 month hospital, 4 months home care). Now I'm doing adult cardiac and love it. But that's not to say I wouldn't consider going back to peds. The beauty of our profession is that so many skills we learn and acquire are transferable.

Just a thought: You can always get your PALS and work in adult cardiac while you continue to look for jobs on a peds unit. Having experience in adult cardiac coupled with the externship you did in peds could make you quite qualified for a pediatric cardiac position in a year or two. Just stay in touch with peds nurses and look out for networking opportunities! Goodluck! :)

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I'm curious..how did the interviews go?!

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

I also did my internship in peds, and took a job on a cardiac step down floor. Go for it, you'll be just fine.

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