New Grad RN in Cardiac step down unit

[mgp6]

Hello, I will be starting work in August as a new grad at a big hospital here in California. Half of the unit is the cardiac step down and half is the coronary care ICU. I will be starting in the step down part and eventually rotate in the ICU.

Please give me advice on how to prepare for work. Do you have any books you will recommend? It is a new grad residency, so we will have classes too, but I'd like to somehow feel more prepared.

Patients in the step down unit are mostly those w/ CHF, cardiomyopathy, dysrhythmias, pre and post cardiac procedures, and those awaiting heart transplants.

Thanks!

[Biffbradford]

So much to learn. So little time! I suggest just hitting the basics like EKGs and the simple cardiac meds like beta blockers, diuretics such as Lasix and Bumex, memorize basic lab values for potassium, BUN/Creatinine, basic assessment skills like listening to rales in the lungs, murmurs in the heart, looking for leg edema, pedal pulses. You might see some infusions of Dobutamine, or Primacor. Maybe Insulin drips. Know what 'ejection fraction' is. Read up on the organ transplant program in your area and learn about the waiting list, how they are prioritized. Plenty of work in that field. Good luck!

[mgp6]

So much to learn. So little time! I suggest just hitting the basics like EKGs and the simple cardiac meds like beta blockers, diuretics such as Lasix and Bumex, memorize basic lab values for potassium, BUN/Creatinine, basic assessment skills like listening to rales in the lungs, murmurs in the heart, looking for leg edema, pedal pulses. You might see some infusions of Dobutamine, or Primacor. Maybe Insulin drips. Know what 'ejection fraction' is. Read up on the organ transplant program in your area and learn about the waiting list, how they are prioritized. Plenty of work in that field. Good luck!

This is a great list. Thanks so much!

[wendowen]

I worked step down for 3 years from a new grad... find a good mentor on your floor and ALWAYS ask questions when in doubt! IT is always better to ask if you dont understand something... stick with it.. alot of days i wanted to quit, but by the end of 3 years I had learned so much.. you can do it!!! Good Luch