Shadowing opportunity on open heart step down unit

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I am an RN with about 8 months of med/surg experience. My hospital's "sister" hospital (large community teaching hospital) has an open position on the open heart step down unit (my dream specialty). I contacted one of the recruiters I know at the hospital to get me in touch with one of the nursing recruiters to see if I could shadow on some of the units with open positions. The nursing recruiter contacted me yesterday. I was able to ask her questions about the "open" positions (it turns out some of them are going be filled by other nurses at the hospital). The open heart position is open and she said I could shadow this Friday from 12 to 3:30. I am beyond excited! Does anyone have any tips for me on how to be at my best and possibly turn this into a job offer? The recruiter said I should wear scrubs and not wear my hospital badge. I have to wait 2 weeks before I can apply in order to have a full 6 months of experience on my current unit, which is the minimum amount of time needed to transfer.

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Be enthusiastic, say what it is about OHS that appeals to you-- and do think this out in advance-- and smile as if you are happy to be there. Ask to look at the charting after the assessments, see what things they pay attention to, and ask why. Have a conversation with the nurse who you shadow about why s/he likes what s/he does and how s/he got into it. See what resonates with you, genuinely.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Should I bring anything with me or take notes?

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A little off topic, but I noticed your login name, "Lev", and thought you might like to know it means "heart" in Hebrew :)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Make sure you take this as an opportunity to evaluate the unit, staff, and patient population as well, rather then them just evaluating you. Open hearts are one of the most interesting and challenging patient populations I've worked with, but also the most frustrating, particularly if it's all open hearts all the time. I've taken care of open hearts in the ICU, tele, and step down units, and I did spend some time in a unit that all open hearts, and to be honest it wore me down quicker than any other, "pump heads" are best in moderation.

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Sounds like you will be taking care of open heart patients 1-2 days post -op?

I did that for 3 years and loved it. Mostly routine, but you get to know your peeps and do a lot of teaching.

May I suggest you know your cardiac rhythms, chest tube care , and temporary pacemaker applications.

Also smile, smile, smile while you are shadowing, jump into help with things like turning, getting water, etc., showing you are a team player.

Good luck, keep us posted.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
A little off topic, but I noticed your login name, "Lev", and thought you might like to know it means "heart" in Hebrew :)

How very appropriate ;)

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Make sure you take this as an opportunity to evaluate the unit, staff, and patient population as well, rather then them just evaluating you. Open hearts are one of the most interesting and challenging patient populations I've worked with, but also the most frustrating, particularly if it's all open hearts all the time. I've taken care of open hearts in the ICU, tele, and step down units, and I did spend some time in a unit that all open hearts, and to be honest it wore me down quicker than any other, "pump heads" are best in moderation.

Good advice..what should I be looking for and what are they looking for in me?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Sounds like you will be taking care of open heart patients 1-2 days post -op?

I did that for 3 years and loved it. Mostly routine, but you get to know your peeps and do a lot of teaching.

May I suggest you know your cardiac rhythms, chest tube care , and temporary pacemaker applications.

Also smile, smile, smile while you are shadowing, jump into help with things like turning, getting water, etc., showing you are a team player.

Good luck, keep us posted.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will read up on those topics.

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How very appropriate ;)

and that's why I told you :) Sometimes, names others choose for us and the names we choose for ourselves have meanings more appropriate than we ever knew!

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