CVICU/Cardiac ICU Capstone/Preceptorship

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Hello!

Does anyone have any tips on how a nursing student can prepare to succeed in a senior capstone/preceptorship in a CVICU/Cardiac ICU setting?

Thank you!

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Specializes in ICU.

Things to study: common procedures - what’s a CABG? What kind of valves do we replace most often? What are the common complications or emergencies that can arise from these procedures? What are important things to assess on a post op patient?

medications: what drips are most commonly used? What will raise a blood pressure? What lowers it? What about anti arrhythmics?

speaking of: what does a-fib look like? What rhythms are an emergency? What’s the difference between a temporary epicardial pacemaker and a permanent pacemaker? What does a STEMI look like and if you suspect one, what should you do?

what’s a swan? Does this unit use a lot of them? What might the numbers tell you about your patient? 

what’s a balloon pump? What about ECMO or impella? Which patients might need these things? Does your unit place durable ventricular assist devices? What kind of patient might get one of those?

Just a few things to get you started!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Notes on ICU Nursing  has a clickable list of FAQ files for new RNs
with info in an easily reasonable format with humor.  How to care for Central lines, Reading ECG's, Understanding labs, Arryhthmia Review and heart blocks, chest tubes etc..  will help you prepare for this setting.

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