CVICU

I don't work in a dedicated CVICU but I have SICU experience and regularly float to CVICU. It's interesting, I'll say that. The heart is an interesting organ and, while very dynamic, it's also predictable. If you know your cardiac physiology you won't have any problems.

I started in a Top 10 hospital on the CVT stepdown and after 9 months I stopped learning anything new, because of this I made the decision to transfer to our Cardiac/Transplant ICU. I absolutely LOVE it. I am an adrenaline junkie and there is no shortage of those intense and deliciously stressful situations! It is VERY intimidating because you are taking some of the sickest patients in the hospital on a regular basis.

Cardiac Surgery ICU RNs are of a different breed from other ICU RNs (SICU, MICU, NICU, CCU) and are a thoroughly robust group as a whole. Some may say that it is cut throat but that is because you have almost no room for error in any aspect of care for these patients. Because of this Cardiac Surgery culture (pretty consistent across the country) you are expected to be knowledgeable, perform at a very high level under life and death situations, and whatever you have to do, it better be done fast and with purpose.

CTICU/CVICU is not for everybody and even very experienced RNs from other ICUs have a difficult time adjusting to the culture because of the acuity of the patients and because of what is expected from the RN staff. But if you are hungry to learn, want to take your game up to the next level, and really grow as an RN, any of the ICUs are a great next step. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

On the stepdown I am on now the acuity is high, even for a stepdown. However we are still the medical side of cardiology. Like you I feel like I have seen all I am going to see on our unit and therefore would like to learn and see more. I could do the CICU but it would be foolish to pass one of our CVICU's (we have 5) since we are a top 5 hospital.

I would say my cardiac physiology is solid but there is always room to grow! I guess my biggest fear or worry is the stress that comes with it. All I can do is shadow a unit and see if its a right fit for me or not when the time is right.

Cardiac Surgery ICU RNs are of a different breed from other ICU RNs (SICU, MICU, NICU, CCU) and are a thoroughly robust group as a whole. Some may say that it is cut throat but that is because you have almost no room for error in any aspect of care for these patients. Because of this Cardiac Surgery culture (pretty consistent across the country) you are expected to be knowledgeable, perform at a very high level under life and death situations, and whatever you have to do, it better be done fast and with purpose.

CTICU/CVICU is not for everybody and even very experienced RNs from other ICUs have a difficult time adjusting to the culture because of the acuity of the patients and because of what is expected from the RN staff. But if you are hungry to learn, want to take your game up to the next level, and really grow as an RN, any of the ICUs are a great next step. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

This is all extremely accurate. Our patients are ALL unstable, even the "stable" ones. We take care of the sickest patients in the hospital,most of whom have just had open heart surgery, up to and including mechanical circulatory support devices. (VADs)

When other ICU patients board in our ICU their docs are often blown away by how fast we make stuff happen and that we anticipate their orders and have stuff waiting. Fact: If you want it done FAST, you're in the right place.

Hmmm. Interesting. I will keep that in the back of my mind. Im still on the fence. I guess all I can do is continue to learn and become more knowledgable and then shadow when the time is right. I appreciate all the feedback!

I started in a Top 10 hospital on the CVT stepdown and after 9 months I stopped learning anything new, because of this I made the decision to transfer to our Cardiac/Transplant ICU. I absolutely LOVE it. I am an adrenaline junkie and there is no shortage of those intense and deliciously stressful situations! It is VERY intimidating because you are taking some of the sickest patients in the hospital on a regular basis.

Cardiac Surgery ICU RNs are of a different breed from other ICU RNs (SICU, MICU, NICU, CCU) and are a thoroughly robust group as a whole. Some may say that it is cut throat but that is because you have almost no room for error in any aspect of care for these patients. Because of this Cardiac Surgery culture (pretty consistent across the country) you are expected to be knowledgeable, perform at a very high level under life and death situations, and whatever you have to do, it better be done fast and with purpose.

CTICU/CVICU is not for everybody and even very experienced RNs from other ICUs have a difficult time adjusting to the culture because of the acuity of the patients and because of what is expected from the RN staff. But if you are hungry to learn, want to take your game up to the next level, and really grow as an RN, any of the ICUs are a great next step. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

This comment seriously got me so JACKED to get into CVICU, I am still a nursing student but this post is truly inspiring and I am so pumped to learn and grow in this field!

Thank you for your insight and wisdom.