New to CCU!

Congrats=========

I am very happy that you got the job. Good luck. Hopefully they will give you a critical care course that helps. Just like with all nursing trust your gut instinct.

I work in a critical care unit cardio vascular thoracic unit to be exact and I am going to travel at the new year. I would like to know about your travel experience.

Congrats to you! Be sure to check out the CCU forum as well as the other critical care forums. You will find tons of information that will help you. I love working in CCU.

One link that comes to mind right off the top of my head is http://www.icufaqs.com

Tons of info there. The biggest piece of advice, is to constantly ask questions, jump in to learn new things from anyone. Make the most of it!!

Thanks for your comments and encouragement. My first day went well. I kind of followed the nurse around for am assessments and then little by little she let me do more of the assessments and then the meds... by the end of the shift (12hrs) I did the evening assessments and meds and then reported to her. This was like the 20th assessment of the day (hahahaha) so, I kind of had no real surprises. The main difference of that day compared to a normal day for me was the frequency of being in the rooms. on step down you are in there eyeballing iv's breathing, etc Q2, but not really doing anything unless there is a problem until Q4 checks. On my new unit, it seemed that we were constantly in the rooms! Started out with 2 pts, one on a vent with poor EF/ horrible CHF and one lethargic restrained pt with a hr in the 30's. (who subsequently became more alert and was quite pleasant after we took him to EP lab for a device placement!) vented pt w/ severe anxiety and questionable bleed (copious amounts of blood when suctioned)....Pulmonologist wanted to extubate and she did not tolerate it..twice, so, rested her the rest of the day... not to mention the new ST depression on ekg and chest pain that had gone on during the night. very very sick. I am looking forward to going back in and learning more... yes there will be some critical care classes... spread out over about 2 months so as to correlate them with clinical experience. So, to say the least I am thrilled... to be home and to be starting a new career path that is so challenging. I think that is what I have been looking for for a while-- a good challenge.

Didn't mean for this to be long, but it is what it is.

ANNARBORRN if you would like to pm me about traveling, I would be happy to talk to you!

Thanks again!:thankya:

Wonderful first day!!! Hope you continue to like it...