I am going into ccu as a new grad and I have heard that ccu nurses are a "different breed" of nurse. In the hospital that I work in ccu nurses have a bad reputation. The nurses from the floor hate to float to ccu because of what they have heard.:uhoh21: I don't have a problem with these nurses and I have seen how they treat float help. They give them the easiest patients and help them whenever they need it. Why do you think that ccu nurses have such bad reputations?
In my 10 years of working in CVICU/CTICU/CCU I have come to realize why at some hospitals we have a bad rap.
I think it is because when you are taking care of a fresh MI, CABG or transplant things can go south pretty darn quickly - and when that happens most of us have no problem delegating tasks and giving orders to who ever is in the room in order to get things done for our patients. These units usually have the most codes (and unexpected codes) than other units thus we are use to reacting and moving quickly.
Since we experience more codes than other units (for the most part) we start recognizing patterns prior to a patient heading south THUS may start delegating without other nurses even realizing what we potentially see going on...this is what gives us the bad rap.
I have been an ICU nurse for over 10 years now....and I still have to prove myself each and every time I start a new job. It's the nature of the game! We ICU nurses want to make sure the people making life and death decisions are doing it with knowledge and confidence. Don't let one nurse's comment bring you down cus it sounds like you WILL make a good ICU nurse from reading the passion in your words!
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.
I have been a Cardio-thoracic ICU nurse for 11 years. I have had ONE needle stick injury 9 years ago due to a careless coworker. Other than that safety has become a very big buzz word in the hospital setting (both for the patient and staff). Needless systems have infiltrated to even the smallest setting thus you almost have to work in order to get a needlestick these days. (unless others are careless - this is something noone can predict. So I think I am more at risk for getting in a car accident then contracting a disease from a needlestick injury. But the risk is still there.
Most hospitals allow you to wear pretty much anything that is profession but most nurses love wearing scrubs. They are comfy and allow you to move without the contraints of pantyhose (anyone remember wearing those to work?). As for wearing white - sure you can but in my field white turns grey pretty darn quick. And Betadine is a B**ch to get out!!!!!!
Breaks - well that depends on where you work. Of course every employer must give you breaks!! In the ICU most of us eat and take our breaks pretty close to our patients so we can hear alarms going off. On slower days, some will leave the ICU for a bit - to catch a ray or two of sunlight.
Nursing is a very broad spectrum career - there is so much out there!
I agree with the above......plus in CVICU you will have more experience with lines and devices than most other ICU's.
In my 10 years of working in CVICU/CTICU/CCU I have come to realize why at some hospitals we have a bad rap.
I think it is because when you are taking care of a fresh MI, CABG or transplant things can go south pretty darn quickly - and when that happens most of us have no problem delegating tasks and giving orders to who ever is in the room in order to get things done for our patients. These units usually have the most codes (and unexpected codes) than other units thus we are use to reacting and moving quickly.
Since we experience more codes than other units (for the most part) we start recognizing patterns prior to a patient heading south THUS may start delegating without other nurses even realizing what we potentially see going on...this is what gives us the bad rap.
imho
Lovern,
I have been an ICU nurse for over 10 years now....and I still have to prove myself each and every time I start a new job. It's the nature of the game! We ICU nurses want to make sure the people making life and death decisions are doing it with knowledge and confidence. Don't let one nurse's comment bring you down cus it sounds like you WILL make a good ICU nurse from reading the passion in your words!
Denise
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
Epona,
I have been a Cardio-thoracic ICU nurse for 11 years. I have had ONE needle stick injury 9 years ago due to a careless coworker. Other than that safety has become a very big buzz word in the hospital setting (both for the patient and staff). Needless systems have infiltrated to even the smallest setting thus you almost have to work in order to get a needlestick these days. (unless others are careless - this is something noone can predict. So I think I am more at risk for getting in a car accident then contracting a disease from a needlestick injury. But the risk is still there.
Most hospitals allow you to wear pretty much anything that is profession but most nurses love wearing scrubs. They are comfy and allow you to move without the contraints of pantyhose (anyone remember wearing those to work?). As for wearing white - sure you can but in my field white turns grey pretty darn quick. And Betadine is a B**ch to get out!!!!!!
Breaks - well that depends on where you work. Of course every employer must give you breaks!! In the ICU most of us eat and take our breaks pretty close to our patients so we can hear alarms going off. On slower days, some will leave the ICU for a bit - to catch a ray or two of sunlight.
Nursing is a very broad spectrum career - there is so much out there!
Denise