precepting on CVSU/vasc-stepdown

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

hello everyone!

I found out today that I am precepting on a cardiovascular surgery unit. The unit has 24 beds and 6 of them are for vascular stepdown-patients. In addition, this unit will utilize telemetry monitoring. It's not quite the ICU like I wanted, but I did have a chance to go to a CVSU unit during my critical care rotation and I really enjoyed it. Nurse:patient ratio on this floor is 1:3.

Here is the actual description of the unit:

...An 18 bed cardiac telemetry unit specializing in the care of the post-op cardiovascular surgical patient. The vascular step-down unit is a 6 bed intermediate care unit specializing in the care of the post-op vascular surgical patient.

Any tips or things I should review that will be helpful on a CVSU/vasc-stepdown unit? Obviously know my EKG rhythms, cardiac drugs, knowledge about cardiac surgery procedures and how to care for post-op cardiac patients. Are drips common on these types of units? Any insight would be appreciated! :)

[newRN_NY]

i know this is an older post but i am wondering the same thing. i am a new grad and will begin on a vascular surgery stepdown in november. if anyone has any information to share about this type of unit, it will be greatly appreciated! :redbeathe

[Carefreeliving]

The unit description is pretty vague and doesn't give specifics, but I can tell you what I did when I worked on a cardiovascular step-down unit.

The type of patients that I dealt with consisted of post-op day 1 patients of CABG's and valve replacements, who came to floor with chest tubes, foleys, and at times external pacemakers. I also took care of patients who were status post CEA's (Carotid endarterectomy), and the following morning we would remove the JP drains before the surgeon's came up to see them. We also saw many fem-pop's, cardiac cath's with interventions, and patient's with heart dysrhythmias.

Cardiac drips that I mainly dealt with was dopamine, cardizem, amiodarone, nitroglycerin, heparin, and maybe an occasional natrecor.

I hope this helps!