Cardiac vs. Neuro

[Lovelymo79]

Hi all! I'm a 2nd semester freshan in nursing school and absolutely loving it!

I first started nursing school interested in neuro. When I took A&P, I fell in love with the brain. My dad also has Parkinson's and my grandmother suffered a stroke so that stoked my interest even more. However, I work part-time on a cardiac floor as a nursing assistant and just finished up my unit on cardiac in school and I think I'm beginning an affair on my neuro love..with this new guy named cardiac! I think I'm in love!

Should I follow this interest in cardiac? Tell me why you love cardiac. Have you ever thought of switching to neuro? If the brain and the heart got into a fight, would the heart totally whoop the brain's butt? Ok..that last question was a joke..but you get my drift.

Thanks guys!

[Lovelymo79]

Alright..I guess neuro wins!

[akvarmit]

Hi Lovely -

I personally think there is a big difference in cardiac or neuro nursing. I love cardiac - it's very measurable and you get instant gratification from giving IV drug therapy. (when it works ) For me neuro is very un-measurable and in acute care you don't often see the results of your interventions at all.

I hope that makes some sense and maybe helps you pin down what type of nursing activity you like.

[Lovelymo79]

Thanks so much, akvarmit! My clinical instructor said something similar..she stated that in cardiac, most of the time you know the "whys" and in neuro..not so much. And she said that's one thing she doesn't like about it..it's unmeasurable and there are a lot of questions of why. And for me, I am very inquisitive and need to know why!

We shall see where I end up. I am applying for nurse externships this summer and I put down cardiac and neuro as choices so we shall see where I end up!

[ECRN 4085]

I love your enthusiasm about wanting to specialize!! I started in a Cardiac Stepdown unit and loved it. After I gained experience and comfort in my skills I took a job in a Neurosurgical ICU. As someone who has work both specialties I can tell you they are two different worlds. The cardiac side is cut and dry, you see a problem you fix it. As a nurse I felt much more in control and your work is more interventional. Neuro is more assessment driven and requires much more detailed communication between the nurse and neurosurgeon. Ironically, many neuro issues arise as a direct result of cardiac issues i.e. hemorrhagic cva secondary to high INR, or afib emboli causing an ischemic cva.

For someone new to nursing I recommend starting on a step down cardiac unit to familiarize yourself with the cardiac issues you'll inevitably encounter in any ICU environment and to understand and learn blood pressure control, as well as refine and learn good assessment skills. If you still have that passion for neuro, pursue it. Best of luck!!

[Lovelymo79]

Thanks so much, ECRN! I'm still interested in cardiac...love it! And I know that starting in a stepdown cardiac unit would be ideal..to get my assessment skills up and start on my road of being an ICU nurse!