Considering CVICU

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

Hi I have been a nurse since February of this year. I am currently working on a cardiac stepdown unit at a highly-ranked, high-acuity teaching hospital. It’s been a good experience so far - I love the patient population and how much I am learning, but the unit politics are already wearing me down (which I understand is likely present on every unit to some degree...). I’ve also always been the kind of person who looks for growth and the next challenge, so I’ve been trying to look ahead and decide what I want my next career step to be once my residency program is over in 8 months. I am very intrigued by the CVICU, but also scared because it is extremely high acuity. Not to say that other CVICUs aren’t high acuity... but ours is the hospital that patients are sent to in this region for the highest level of care. The CVICU nurses also have unique responsibilities and autonomy here that I’ve heard other facilities do not allow - incredible stuff, but also intimidating.

I have always done well in school and have received high remarks from coworkers and managers since starting here. I also have prior medical experience as a medical assistant and scribe for 5 years before going to nursing school. I study outside of work because I enjoy learning and trying to become the best nurse I can be for my patients. My priority has and always will be keeping my patients safe.... and regardless of how hard I’m working, I‘m worried I am not smart enough to keep them safe in the CVICU here.

So, my question is: is it normal to be worried about these kinds of things? Or is this a sign that I wouldn’t be a good ICU nurse?

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Specializes in NICU.
11 hours ago, JulietRN said:

So, my question is: is it normal to be worried about these kinds of things? Or is this a sign that I wouldn’t be a good ICU nurse?

It is best to be humble and realize that you do not everything. Being a little scared is a good thing, it makes a safe nurse. Thinking that you know everything, and not scared to jump into a very high acuity unit is a bad thing and errors happen because of arrogance.

I would suggest putting in a year at your current position and learn everything you can in the next 8 months. After the 1 year mark, do some self reflection and determine if you feel you have a good foundation to make the move to CVICU.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Perfectly normal. I feel a lot of the large hospitals give their ICU nurses more autonomy than other hospitals would allow. My old employer is known throughout the US and the world and I heard about the autonomy the nurses are given in the ICU's. I was considering going to ICU as I started on a stepdown as well but realized that was as far as I wanted to go.

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Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.

All the emotions you’re feeling are great & the fact that you are thinking about the CVICU is great too. I worked in post-op surgical & then on an oncology floor (I loved both specialties btw) and I just started in the CVICU this month. My reason for the change was because I was seeking a challenge, growth & to learn more. I got accepted into a FNP program prior to this change & I toyed around with the idea of either doing that or getting ICU experience. I was floated to the CVICU during covid to help out & loved it! I feel like the politics of floor nursing are less in the CVICU mainly because people are so so busy & patients are so sick that everyone is forced to work in concert with each other and driven to attain a good outcome for the patient even in extreme dire situations. 
 

Unnecessary politics or cliques at work typically form when people are at a plateau, bored, not learning anymore & growth is stagnated. 
 

You will be in for a tonne of learning, & even as an experienced nurse, I find the CVICU to be a different world. I did a lot of research prior to starting in the CVICU & now that I work in one, I honestly think it’s the best place to be. So I’d encourage you to apply especially if you like to learn, love fast-paced busy work environments that are also mentally engaging. I however also believe my floor experience (3yrs) is going a long way. I still don’t know how people start in the ICU as new grads but it happens. So I’m saying optimize your learning where you are now as it will help you.  Of course like any other unit, you’ll have good days & bad days....just stay on track. The autonomy nurses are given is great too & encourages you to read & learn more on a continual basis...Follow your heart and Go for it! Best of luck! 

 

 

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

Thank you so much for the reply! And congrats; I am glad to hear you are happy! I actually job shadowed in the CVICU a few weeks ago and felt like that’s where I need to be - like my energy for nursing and learning was renewed. I submitted my application 4 days ago! ? best wishes to you & stay healthy! 

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You have 8 months of experience as a nurse.  I highly doubt you have enough experience to handle what you will have to deal with "unique responsibilities and autonomy" in CVICU. 

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

I appreciate the input, but this is a large teaching hospital with a program for new grads who start directly in the ICU. The learning curve will be tremendous, as will the responsibility associated with the autonomy level, but I know I’m ready to learn and I’m in a supportive place to do so. No matter when I go this would be true. I also have the discipline to study outside of work and the ability to know when I need to ask for help. It just took me a while to find the confidence to make the leap, but I’m confident now and I’m at least going to try applying for the position. 

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