I Want a Position of a Cardio-Pulmonary Unit

Career Columnist / Author · Aug 17, 2015

Dear Nurse Beth,

I have recently learned through a VERY reliable source(very hush-hush) that my 16-bed LTC unit will soon be converted to a 10-bed cardio-pulmonary sub-acute/rehab unit. I am an LPN with a BS, so plenty of background, but no time to go after my RN before this change happens. I am looking into getting ACLS, and the American Heart association offers several online courses, including EKG, STEMI, and Stroke.

I have had no luck finding LPN certification courses for cardiology, so do you think these online classes would be adequate to prepare me for this new unit (it is supposed to have telemetry). I would like to stay where I am rather than transfer to a regular rehab unit or the other LTC unit.

Dear Wants Cardio-Pulmonary Unit,

You are to be commended for looking ahead and taking the initiative to to get your skills up.

LPNs are very valuable team members due to their broad skill sets. There are generally a few practice restrictions on LPNs depending on your state and the facility. You are probably already familiar with them.

The practice restrictions can include not performing initial admission assessments, hanging blood transfusions, administering IVP medications, or working with central lines. When I was an LVN (in CA), I could hang blood but not give IV antibiotics, or provide patient teaching.

The AHA NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a very good course that includes patient scenarios, and earns you a certificate. Likewise, taking STEMI and EKG courses will also help you prepare for this cardiac patient population.

Study up on commonly prescribed cardiac medications. Will the unit offer telemetry monitoring or bedside cardiac monitoring? Review your heart rhythms. ACLS is a good course where you will learn a lot, even if you are not allowed to push IV meds.

Have you heard if you will have ventilator patients? Review vent settings, PEEP, AC, SIMV, weaning criteria.

Since the plans are hush-hush, they haven't published what qualifications they will be looking for in nurses, or the skill mix. These are things you can't control, but will affect your chances of being hired.

Hopefully they will post the jobs and the job requirements soon before you invest a whole lot of time in studying.

The Nursing Specialties Forum is a great place to hear from nurses with sub-acute/rehab experience who know the ropes.

Good luck

Nurse Beth