New grad in Cardiac Rehab

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I am a new grad in the ICU, which I adore. I absolutely love the detailed assessment, pathophysiology, patient/family teaching and interaction and teamwork.

The course load and only option to work nights is taking its toll on my health and marriage.

Can anyone offer a little advice and insight regarding the Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse's role, day-to-day job description and the possibility of entering this interesting area of nurisng as a new graduatue.

Thank you :)

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Hi! I'm a Cardiac Rehab nurse, for 3 years now. I worked in ICU for 18 years; I really liked it, but felt "burned out". I love cardiac rehab! The patients all want to be here, and I feel like I'm really helping them. I'd say as a new grad, it's better to get a couple of years of ICU experience before you'd feel comfortable in Cardiac Rehab. It's good to have a solid background in reading heart monitors, and in just getting that intuitive knowledge of when a patient is going bad. It's great to see them on the other side, after you've seen people so sick!! Good luck to you!

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Hi again- I realized after I posted that you wanted a job description, etc. I work in a smaller hospital as the only cardiac rehab RN (actually in a couple of weeks, I'm going to get a part time nurse to help, as I'm getting SO many patients!) Here we do a low level exercise (stress) test to determine their level, then I calculate where to start their exercise program, and determine their goals of where to end. They're here 12 weeks; I run 5 classes a day, an hour long. I do teaching, etc. I have alot of paperwork-new charts to get ready, progress reports to doctors, and I send them a home exercise program after they graduate. But it's not as stressful as ICU, and the hours are great!! I work 7-3 M-F (I do rehab M-W-F, and stress tests on T-Th). If I can help you out, let me know!!

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I can't thank you enough for taking the time to reply to my post. It is very helpful to get advice from a professional.

It was very insightful to hear your opinion, and I know how important it is to stick it out to gain perspective and experience -- I just worry about my body and personal life.

Thank you again and I will truly consider your words of wisdom.

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