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 :)

Don't beat yourself over it. You can play "what ifs" all day. What if the passenger in the other car was angry and pulled a gun? It is a crazy world and you do have to think of your own safety first. You made a good faith effort to make sure everyone looked ok- I wouldn't feel too bad about this. As for identifying yourself as a nurse, it is different in every state. In Texas, you are under no obligation to stop and render aid unless you were personally involved in the crash.

It sounds like you know what you want already! A lot of people commute from SL to TMC so you'll be in good company. The only thing I can say about Methodist is that they treat their employees very well and there is something to be said for that. Good luck with your decision.

We technically have it- although, we don't do education on it and I'm sure our patient's families don't know it exists I'm curious to know what others experiences are like.

Maybe it is just the "culture" of the cardiology practice?? That really stinks for the nurses. All the mid-levels that I work with are phenomenal- especially the cardiology PAs. They are easy to approach and talk to and the NPs are really good teachers and also really knowledgable. I can't imagine what I'd do without them. I'm sorry you are not as lucky :) (really, I'm not bragging- I've just been so appreciative of our mid-levels this week!)

It also makes a difference WHEN you order. I've noticed that if you order during the middle of the school semester then things tend to come faster. If you order a bunch of stuff in August/September, you are going to have to wait for it!

When you first started as a nurse, when did you get your first raise (after orientation, 3 months, 6 months, a year)? For the newer nurses, how much of a raise did you get? Was it by a certain dollar amount per hour or was it a percentage of your pay? Your feedback is appreciated! Our annual reviews are coming up in May and I think I'm due for a raise. I just want to know what to realistically expect. Thanks!

I don't remember anything like that on my exit HESI (though it has been awhile). Do you think they might have been pilot questions?

How badly do you need the money and what kind of condition is your car in? I have two young ones myself and I would not work more than 40 minutes away. At the end of a shift i'm exhausted and there is just no way I could do that! When I first started, there were days where I would still be at the hospital until 8pm. That's more like a 13-14 hour day- I can't imagine driving so far after that. Just my two cents. Good luck with the job hunt!

Ditto! I graduated from my 18 month program with a 3.9- I had a two year old and I was pregnant for 8 out of the 10 months. I'm not bragging - that's just how it happened for me. The one thing I did not do was work in addition to school. I don't know if you can get away with that in this economy but it helps tremendously if you can avoid it during the first part of your program. Nursing school is tough- really tough! Just work hard and stay humble and you will be fine. Good luck!

I have NSO- it costs more and I get less coverage then the previous posters because I'm in Texas but I do feel a little bit better knowing I have it :)