New RN in PCU

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Hello, I am a new nurse and will be starting my job at the Progressive Care Unit this coming June. I am really excited and since I still got a month or so before I start my job, I really would like to prepare myself for it. What are the things that I really need to know and brush up on? What are the nursing procedures that are commonly done in the PCU? Any advices and words of wisdom for me???

Thank you :) Hoping to hear from y'all soon!

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I am a nurse educator n critical care nurse. I suggest you buy a PCCN review book and use that as your reference. That way you will also be preparing yourself for certification down the line.

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I am a nurse educator n critical care nurse. I suggest you buy a PCCN review book and use that as your reference. That way you will also be preparing yourself for certification down the line.

Thank you so much. Is there any specific review book that you could recommend? Appreciate your help!

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Yes the PCCN by ACCN (American association of critical care nurses) and when you buy a review book get the second edition by Ann Brorsen (PCCN certification review) on Amazon . Go read the reviews I think you will like.

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Yes the PCCN by ACCN (American association of critical care nurses) and when you buy a review book get the second edition by Ann Brorsen (PCCN certification review) on Amazon . Go read the reviews I think you will like.

Will do! Thank you so much! :)

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My very favorite book is: Cardiovascular Nursing Practice: A Comprehensive Resource Manual and Study Guide for Clinical Nurses by Carol Jacobson. I bought it at a AACN critical care conference. I have the 2007 edition but I believe there is a newer version available on the AACN website. It is comprehensive, easy to understand and very interesting to read. If I were you I would become comfortable with the ACLS protocols. Even once you become ACLS certified , I would keep periodically reviewing these protocols until they are burned in your brain. Topics you can brush up on that are widely found on all PCU's: CHF and ACS including the meds used to treat them (beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins, diuretics.) On the step down unit I work there are about 5 gtts we can administer that Med/Surg can't (amiodarone, diltiazem, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, and nitroglycerin). When I was a new nurse I had a lot of stress and hesitation when I had patients on these particular meds. If you know which gtts are particular to YOUR unit (or as you learn about them once you start the job), I would make it a point to try and become an "expert" with those specific gtts. Know the max dose, how to titrate, side effects, indications etc. AACN has a lot of good info on their website, especially practice alerts (alarm fatigue, ST monitoring, pain, delirium, etc).

Just my two cents.. hopefully this helped. Good luck! :up:

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Specializes in PCU, LTAC, Corrections.

Thanks for asking this question. I'm going to be a new grad starting in the PCU as well. I am definitely going to purchase the above mentioned books.

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My very favorite book is: Cardiovascular Nursing Practice: A Comprehensive Resource Manual and Study Guide for Clinical Nurses by Carol Jacobson. I bought it at a AACN critical care conference. I have the 2007 edition but I believe there is a newer version available on the AACN website. It is comprehensive, easy to understand and very interesting to read. If I were you I would become comfortable with the ACLS protocols. Even once you become ACLS certified , I would keep periodically reviewing these protocols until they are burned in your brain. Topics you can brush up on that are widely found on all PCU's: CHF and ACS including the meds used to treat them (beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins, diuretics.) On the step down unit I work there are about 5 gtts we can administer that Med/Surg can't (amiodarone, diltiazem, dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, and nitroglycerin). When I was a new nurse I had a lot of stress and hesitation when I had patients on these particular meds. If you know which gtts are particular to YOUR unit (or as you learn about them once you start the job), I would make it a point to try and become an "expert" with those specific gtts. Know the max dose, how to titrate, side effects, indications etc. AACN has a lot of good info on their website, especially practice alerts (alarm fatigue, ST monitoring, pain, delirium, etc).

Just my two cents.. hopefully this helped. Good luck! :up:

Thank you so much for your comment, I would definitely do everything you just said. Appreciate your help! :)

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