labcat01

You probably need to ask the unit where you plan to interview. In my CVICU, we recover heart patients (CABGs, Valves, etc). We also recover and care for heart and lung transplants, ECMO patients, IABPs, and every kind of VAD under the sun. We also get every miscellaneous sick and nasty sick patient that the hospital can't figure out what to do with. It is very intense but it is a lot of fun. Hope that helps and good luck to you!

I took and passed the CCRN this June using mainly her cds to study for the test. I'd recommend them to anyone! If I had further questions on a topic, I used the PASS CCRN book to read up on it and then did the practice questions on the cd. Good luck!

Personally, I am worried. There are 3 big nursing schools where I live and one has already gotten rid of it's MSN-ACNP program. Another school is phasing out it's MSN program so that after next year it is admitting only to the DNP program. So, whether the DNP becomes required or not, many of us won't have a choice.

This is correct- according to the website: AACN Certification Corporation I agree that hospitals do tend to favor the CCRN exam and fear that you may be ineligible if you are audited. It will take you more time to study depending on your experience with swans, vents, drips, etc. I'm not sure how your current unit is- some step down units are pretty hard core and some are just Tele units. It all depends on how much experience you have with.

If you are worried about your BP, you should talk to your doctor or cardiologist about it. We can't give medical advice on All Nurses and even if we could, it sounds like you have a medical history slightly more complicated then the average person. Talk to your doctor and try not to worry about it :) Good luck!

yes! so true- i don't know anyone liked nursing in nursing school. it is a bit different once you are out of there. you've gotten great advice so far. i would really try to get some experience as a critical care nurse before you make any big decisions. when you are in nursing school, you don't really have a clue about what crnas and nps really do. also, you don't really understand the crummy work schedules of the mds either (believe me- their jobs are no picnic). good luck with whatever you decide!

Haha! That episode was on when I was working the other day and it was freaking my pt's family out! They were asking me about MRSA and necrotizing fasciitis. I told them to turn of the TV - that's like watching a movie about plane crashes on a transcontinental flight!

I'm afraid I might fit into some of those descriptions. Sigh! I'll be sure to give my CN a big hug at work tomorrow and try my best not to complain about my assignment :)

I think you definitely did the right thing. It is never a bad thing to ask questions or to refrain from doing things you are not comfortable with. I think that shocker29 gave you some spot-on advice. Good luck!

Ditto

Personally, I would never take a job in case management- it is just way too stressful (at least it is in my hospital). Plus, I just can't stand all the paperwork and red tape. No thanks! Cath lab recovery would be an awesome job- I think. Maybe not as exciting as ICU but it would still be pretty fun. I'd just make sure and ask around how often the call team is actually called in. At my hospital, the answer is almost every day. Like someone else said, it all depends on your career goals :) Good luck!

Hi- I think it depends on who you talk to. Some of the nurses I know say it takes as much as 5 years to get comfortable on a new unit- agh! Here are two general websites that I like: http://www.icufaqs.org -------> General ICU stuff http://www.pacep.org --------> Hemodynamics galore! Sorry, it's not cardiac specific! Best of luck with your new job!

LOL!!! I don't get what the issue is- the ER nurse calls report and if they get delayed what's the BFD? It's better for the ER nurses to bring the patients to ICU. In the ER at my hospital, the nurses usually have 4-5 patients of their own and most everyone is running to the traumas and codes- the nurses are ALL OVER THE PLACE. If I had to leave the ICU to come get my patient and then have to search all over to find the nurse and get report, I'd be pretty ticked. You know the saying "if it's not broke don't fix it"? Our current system isn't perfect but it's good enough!

I couldn't agree more. I have the same concerns as the OP and this DNP business has me seriously considering PA school. I'm hoping that it is never going to be mandatory. If we really needed a doctorate level advanced nursing practice, I wish that they'd try to make it more like MD/DO programs so that doctoral level nurses could take the USMLE and have residency programs. Just my thoughts- hope they don't offend!

Here's my advice- Have a good organized report sheet. It doesn't have to be fancy or special (I take a piece of paper, fold it in half, and write things down by system). At the bottom of the report sheet is my "to do list" where I keep a list of the important tasks that need to be done or any issues that are pending. That helps me keep track of the "tasks". It's ok to be task oriented when you are first starting- but you need to develop a routine and a system to get past that. ICU nursing is more then doing a repetitive set of tasks. It may take a few months before you get past that but it's something that you will have to work on! GOOD LUCK (the first time you are on your own is really freaky- don't be too hard on yourself)...and I LOVE your screen name :)