Cardiac Tele to CVICU

[Sikh_Nurse]

Hi everyone,

First, off my prayers go out to those affected by the horrific thing that happened in LV.

I hope someone can put my mind at easy and give me some great recommendations/advice. I have been a nurse for about 9 months. I had began my practice as a new grad on a Cardiac Tele floor and was not happy and due to family circumstances had to relocate. I have been offered a position on CVICU and do not know what to expect. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I already have my ACLS certification and I am a member of AACN and regularly watch webinars and follow articles. I also have my associates in nursing and I am actively working towards my BSN. My goal is sometime in the future to go to CRNA school.

I do not know what I should brush up on and what I should focus more energy towards. I am open to any and all advice and suggestions.

Thank you

Sikh_Nurse

[Charge200J, BSN]

Congrats on the new job! You are in for an incredible journey. Hopefully your orientation will include some kind of comprehensive ICU bridge program of classroom time to help learn pathophysiology seen and the unique meds that are used in ICU settings. Review your ACLS algorithms, we are the telemetry, rhythms change quickly in the CVICU and often the alarms are real.

A good book is Kathy White's Fast Facts for Critical Care

Good websites are: LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog and index

We have a lot of gadgets in the CVICU, I tell my orientees at the beginning to ignore all the gadgets and just focus on getting comfortable with the constant balance of unstable hemodynamics. Try to keep it simple in the beginning...blood goes round and round, air goes in and out, any variation from that is probably a problem. Then as your orientation progresses your preceptor will start incorporating new layers of complexity. This orientation will be mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging, but it is such a rewarding career. Keep us updated! Best wishes.