New Grad starting on a Coronary Care Unit soon...

Specialties Cardiac

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If anyone has experience on this type of unit, could you please give me some advice as to how to prepare for this job? I have been studying EKG rhythms and I'm going to read over the Cardiac chapters in my med-surg book. If you have any other helpful suggestions, all would be greatly appreciated! Thanks :)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
if anyone has experience on this type of unit, could you please give me some advice as to how to prepare for this job? i have been studying ekg rhythms and i'm going to read over the cardiac chapters in my med-surg book. if you have any other helpful suggestions, all would be greatly appreciated! thanks :)

congratulations on your new job! i loved ccu, and i hope you will, too.

knowing your rhythms and identifying arrhythmias is a great place to start. also know your cardiac drugs -- dosages, actions, side effects. you don't have to memorize them all now, as some ccus seem to have a preference for some drugs over others. but at least have a basic idea. have an idea of your lab values -- start with the basics. what's a normal k+? that way if someone tells you the k+ is 8 in report, you'll have an idea whether that's normal or not. look at your chapters on hemodynamic monitoring. and look here:index

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Great advice, thank you! And thanks for the link.

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Specializes in CCU.

Congrats!!! I started in CCU three years ago. Do you know if you get immediate post op heart (ie CABG's etc)? It'll be great experience. Like above, know what's normal!! You can't know if something is wrong if you don't know what is normal for the patient. A good reference guide for you is fast facts for critical care by Kathy White. You can by the little note book or if you are an apple person they have app's. I suggest the critical care app, Iabp app, and cardiothoracic surg app (if you get fresh hearts). These are amazing references!!! Cheaper as an app but well worth the money if you done have an iPhone/itouch. Also when your off your orientation- do a progr called PACEP- @ PACEP.org - registration is free. It teaches you about hemodynamics. Don't worry if you don't understand it.. It is pretty advanced! But you will get exposed to it, then redo it after a year and you'll understand it much better!!! Last bit of advice, be humble! Good luck to you!!

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