CTU/CVICU orientation?

I have always been interested in working with open hearts... I'm wondering what type or how long of an orientation you usually go through to work efficiently on these units? I've been working about 3 years in the Trauma-Neurosurgical ICU, but have never had IABP or any fresh CABGs and only a handful of pacers. Do you usually have to get certified or complete some hospital courses? Just curious what everyone's experience has been as far as training/transitioning into CVICU. :)

Well it seems to me that you must have a great knowledge base with ICU patients thus your orientation should be minimal depending on what you already have.

Depending on your experience with vasoactive gtts and swans I wouldn't think you would need a whole lot of transitioning. Pacemakers, in the several hospitals I have worked in, usually is first learned in a class then hands-on. As for IABP once you understand the concept, how to properly time, the reason the patient needs one, and how gtts affect the pump....the device will run itself. Datascope (IABP makers) should come and hold a course at your hospital. They really know their stuff so even if one of the nurses on the unit orients you to IABP...make sure you take a class from the Datascope educator!

Normally orientation for a non-ICU (or new grad) nurse will run 8-12 weeks in most hospitals. For experienced ICU nurses, I have seen anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Good Luck

Denise :cheers:

Our hospital offers an IABP and a pacer class for new nurses to CCU/CVICU. Datascope comes when they change out the balloon pumps to a newer model. Our new grads get 12-16 wks of orientation, and experienced nurses get 6-8 wks. This includes unit and critical care orientation.