Request for advice from veteran CVSICU nurses

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I will be a new grad at the end of July (God-willing!), and have been offered a position at the CVSICU in my dream hospital. I'm beyond excited and totally geeked out, but at the same I'm a little nervous about my first 6 months (heck, let's make it 1 year) on the job. I'd like to ask any and all experienced CVSICU nurses on this forum to feel free to share your experiences / wisdom / advice for how you survived (and thrived) during your first time in a CVSICU.

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Bump... Anybody?? :(

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthesiology.

What I tell all CRNA students, RNs, etc is to get a good physiology book and start reading. Nursing school is a joke when it comes to physiology and disease processes. If you understand the basic science behind the body and how things actually work it will help make sense to stuff you are doing.

Many nurses can titrate drugs to a certain MAP or adjust sedation based on patient responsiveness, but why are you titrating the levo instead of the epi? Or why giving a fluid bolus would be better than going up on a gtt. If you know the "why" behind things it will make your life a lot simpler and things will make a lot more sense.

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Hey! I graduated last year and my first job is in a busy CVICU at a large teaching hospital. I love it! I learned so much about nursing on this unit. It is definitely a bear to learn how to function as a critical care nurse when you don't even know how to be a nurse in general, but the best part is that since it's your first job, you don't even really notice because you have nothing to compare it to. When I started, nurses on my unit told me that they came from like 10 years of med-surg history and still cried for the first 6 months. I have been stressed to the max, sure, but there has never been a moment that I thought to myself "omg, i can't do this." I am actually leaving the unit soon because the hour drive to and from work is putting a huge strain on me with two babies at home and I need something closer to home and it breaks my heart because i truly do love my job. I've learned so much but there is still so much more to learn in the CVICU. It really is all about if the nurses are helpful or not. You never want to start in a place where the nurses eat you alive. Cliche for sure, but my unit is like a family and I've never even hesitated asking a more veteran nurse for help or advice on which direction to take in a compromised situation. So long as you are surrounded by supportive nurses that want to help you grow (not watch you sink), CV is the best place to start, in my opinion. You'll do great! Congrats!!

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Thanks for the advice, I appreciate that both of you took the time to respond! :)

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Specializes in Cardiovascular recovery unit/ICU.

This is so on point. You first understand the why and what behind the physiology/drug/procedure, then understand how to apply it in real time. THEN you can make mnemonics or cheat sheets to jog your memory. By actually performing daily tasks you will memorize much of it without even realizing it.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular recovery unit/ICU.

One more thingí ¾í´“ Make sure your hospital has a very good education department and preceptor program. It sounds like they do. Also find someone you admire that has a great work ethic, is smart and likes to teach others. That relationship will be so valuable to you over the years. I'm still friends with my very first mentor. She attended my graduation and gave me my first set of calipers. I went straight into cardiovascular recovery after graduation. I was allowed an internship of three months with preceptor for three months. After that my mentor was there for me to lean on if I needed her. You will do great! I'm so happy for you! Let us know how things are going❤️

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, E.R..

Aside from learning from a good preceptor, get your CCRN certification. The study alone will help you big time in understanding hemodynamics, PA catheter pressures and their significance, ABG's, etc. Once you get that, continue to get your CMC, then CSC certifications. Look up on youtube for everything about anything! There is a plethora of videos that will help you understand disease processes, procedures, 12 lead, balloon pumps, etc within minutes! Better than reading a book. Although a book is a good reference, the simulations and animated videos on YouTube will help you understand anything you have a hard time grasping.

You will learn that the more solid your knowledge base is, the less stress you will encounter and the more confident you will be in managing complicated patients.

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