Ortho to cardiothoracic ICU

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Hello all,

Some background, I have 2 years experience on a mainly ortho floor with some telemetry for patients with post-op complications. VERY small ortho dedicated hospital. I loved my job but found myself yearning for more, I always felt like I wasn't taking full advantage of my education in this position.

Fast forward to now, I have accepted a position in the cardiothoracic ICU at a large level 1 trauma center hospital. I have finished "corporate" orientation and begin working with my preceptor in 3 days. I am VERY excited but so nervous because I know that it is going to be a steep learning curve and feeling a bit crazy making this huge change. I have been studying in my own time, reviewing vasoactive drips and trying to prepare myself in any way possible. I'm just looking for anyone who has been in a similar situation or anyone who has any words of advice about going in to the ICU.

Much thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hey KCollins, CONGRATS on the transition! I start a CTICU position soon. I'm assuming you've started precepting already, any tips? I just picked up the book: Cardiac Surgery Essentials for Critical Care Nursing, and going to start reading soon. Would love to hear about how it's been for you so far.

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On 7/29/2020 at 6:44 PM, Nurse Guy Mike said:

Hey KCollins, CONGRATS on the transition! I start a CTICU position soon. I'm assuming you've started precepting already, any tips? I just picked up the book: Cardiac Surgery Essentials for Critical Care Nursing, and going to start reading soon. Would love to hear about how it's been for you so far.

Mike,

Yes! I am actually just finishing my last week of orientation and I start on my own next week. Fastest 8 weeks of my life. Its been a big change, I really am enjoying the ICU setting over my previous med/surg/ortho background. There is so much more help and cohesiveness it seems. One thing I would recommend freshening up on is swan-ganz catheters. This was something I remembered learning in school and just kind of tucked in the back of my mind. The first time I had one I had a hard time remembering its purpose. Definitely familiarize yourself with levo, epi, dopamine, dobutamine, fentanyl, precedex, and propofol. Those are the most common drips I have seen this far. And the last thing I would recommend is get used to hemodynamics: cardiac output, cardiac index, and SVR in particular. I hope this helps! These are just the things I wish I would have looked up better before starting. Good luck to you, and congratulations as well!

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