CVIU vs PCU nursing

Specialties Cardiac

Published

Specializes in Cardiology, Radiology, Cath Lab.

I have been contemplating two different jobs between CVIU and PCU nursing, Both are offering intern positions for a recent graduate, both promis advancement. My question is Will taking the job in CVIU (in patient post op for cath lab, recovery from STEMI, new implantable devices) limit my opportunities to get into the ICU in a year or two? I was told by the manager that opportunities to get into the cath lab or cath lab observation would be easy since the departments work so much together. (CVIU does sheath pulling) I am just concerned that the patients we see in the CVIU won't give a broad enough caseload to prepare me for an ICU. any thoughts.....

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Specializes in CTICU.

What does CVIU stand for? Cardiovascular... Unit??

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Specializes in Cardiology, Radiology, Cath Lab.

CVIU= cardiovascular interventional unit, Post procedural in patient cath lab, Post STEMI, non-STEMI, device (ICD, pacer) placement, in patient EP ablation studies and interventions. lots of business...

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Specializes in CTICU.

Sounds busy! I haven't heard that abbreviation before. I don't think it sounds like it will give you good experience for ICU, but then I don't really think anything does except ICU.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry.

The interventional unit will be more procedural nursing. You recover them from the sedation, pull the lines and either send them home, or back to the floor. That is why you would have a good chance to move over to cath lab- same kind of procedural, move them out atmosphere, and you will coordinate with the lab all day. As far as going to ICU, I don't think that you will gain that experience that you will need to be able to identify subtle changes in condition to intervene before it becomes a major problem. You won't be doing as many procedures in the PCU but you will gather a wider range of experience for ICU. On the other hand, if your goal is cath lab I would choose the CVIU

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