1st job in CCU

Medwynn · Nov 13, 2007

Wow. Congrats. I've only been working as an RN since June in the CIC/CCU and i love it..

One word of advice, never be afraid to ask questions. Your co-workers are there to help you out as they have numerous times with me. Learn your drips and try to help in room procedures such as central line placement. helps. good luck.

neko11111 · Nov 13, 2007

I absolutely HATE titrations!!! Any suggestions? I've got a brain block with this math for some reason!! :uhoh3:

jmgrn65, RN · Nov 13, 2007

ask questions, when there is a procedure or code get in the room to observe or take notes.

Titrations in real life is fairly easy, because of the pumps.

be aware you will probably become overwhelmed with all the information, thats normal. if you don't know ask!

Good Luck

Summitk2 · Nov 13, 2007

I absolutely HATE titrations!!! Any suggestions? I've got a brain block with this math for some reason!!

Is this a joke??

I sure hope so, as the title "CCU nurse" is almost synonymous with "titration"!! Yes, the pumps do the majority of the math, but you also need to have a second-nature eye on the pumps to make sure the mL/hr is what it should be. I strongly suggest calculating the infusion rates ALL THE TIME until you have the math and the numbers clear in your mind. These are patients and drugs who cannot afford mistakes in calculation, and their safety is in your hands. I have seen nurses with decades of experience make infusion mistakes. Please be vigilant in your calculations and be sure you are capable of whatever assignment you're given.

Good luck!

Summitk2

neko11111 · Nov 13, 2007

Is this a joke??
I sure hope so, as the title "CCU nurse" is almost synonymous with "titration"!! Yes, the pumps do the majority of the math, but you also need to have a second-nature eye on the pumps to make sure the mL/hr is what it should be. I strongly suggest calculating the infusion rates ALL THE TIME until you have the math and the numbers clear in your mind. These are patients and drugs who cannot afford mistakes in calculation, and their safety is in your hands. I have seen nurses with decades of experience make infusion mistakes. Please be vigilant in your calculations and be sure you are capable of whatever assignment you're given.
Good luck!
Summitk2

ok - well, that was kind of harsh !?!??

I was asking for suggestions - not a lecture... but thankyou for your kind words anyways - i always appreciate it.

Nurse_RaRa · Nov 20, 2007

hey, neco,

I'm with you. I only have two years exp in a small rural hosp and i recently took a job on a 33 bed cardiac floor of a huge hosp. I am still in orientation but overwhelmed a bit. I can handle three pts for 12 hours (night shift) but they require i be able to handle six!!!!!!! We are not stupid - we passed the NCLEX and survived nursing school - we can do this. In my fabulous hospital - the coworkers are so nice and helpful so YES - always ask questions - extend your orientation if need be, I did - but I would say learn how to be very organized with your jot sheet/patient info sheet. I'm redesigning some to help me.

About the drip rates - pppffffttt. - check the orders but it SHOULD be handed down in report. eg. 0.3mcg = 7.5cc/hour. I'm sure there is a titration cheat sheet somewhere ( I hate math too) that will help you until all this becomes second naure to "us". Yes - drips are important...i almost had a pt go AMA on me because he wanted to go meet the computer guy that was coming to fix his pc at home...and he was on a lasix and dopamine drip!!!!!! Was told he wouldn't make it home without those drips.

Be thorough in your information gathering and charting (I'm learning computer charting, pixsys, omnicell and Cardiac for the first time). I, for one, will be encouraging and supportive to newbies because that is the only way a person can be free to learn - when they feel supported and encouraged to excel. And when the nursing staff excels - the hospital's reputation excels and that makes everyone happy.

neko11111 · Nov 23, 2007

thankyou so much ra ra.... I appreciate the support very much so...

that's one thing that i just cannot understand - when more experienced nurses take it upon themselves to put down and try to intimidate new nurses.

you would think that ~ hey - the patients' health comes first and foremost - so maybe we should all work together and support each other with the knowledge that we can offer each other.....

but some people unfortunately, feel that newbie's know absolutely nothing and they need to intimidate them, and weed them out.... because they are worthless and have no place in their unit. :nono:

Well - guess what? who's going to take over when the older generation of nurses retire????? US!!!

Nurse_RaRa · Nov 23, 2007

thankyou so much ra ra.... I appreciate the support very much so...
that's one thing that i just cannot understand - when more experienced nurses take it upon themselves to put down and try to intimidate new nurses.
you would think that ~ hey - the patients' health comes first and foremost - so maybe we should all work together and support each other with the knowledge that we can offer each other.....
but some people unfortunately, feel that newbie's know absolutely nothing and they need to intimidate them, and weed them out.... because they are worthless and have no place in their unit.
Well - guess what? who's going to take over when the older generation of nurses retire????? US!!!

YOU are more than welcome and YES - we will be taking over soon because so many of the older nurses will be retiring.

I JUST found out last work shift that I wasn't given the "welcome to our floor and here's what you need to know " manual at the beginning of my orientation six weeks ago- GGEEEZZZ!!! Thank GOD for allnurses.com where I can learn about cardiac from others - Thank you so much!

Allnurses also helped me decide to become an RN (not to downplay the LPN's) When I first asked - the concensus was to shoot for RN and I did! and I'm glad I did. Here in Montana, LPN's can't hang blood or give IV meds - that's about the only difference but I notice most hospitals are going full RN's only. We need LPN's because of the shortage and some are happier being just that. I detested this one LPN when I first started who had more experience than me but I could do more and get paid more - she hated that I think. She gave crappy patient care and probably still thinks she is all that. She even did up tests for us to take with prizes.....but no CEU's!! Go figure. Just because you are a nurse - doesn't necessarily mean you are good at patient care, that you listen and truly care about your patient's comfort and their hospital expereince. That LPN once left a pt with alzhiemers and parkinsons SOAKING in a strawberry ensure...like he could feed himself!!! I cleaned up the floor and did mention the incident to my DON but guess what? The DON was stuck because of lack of nurses in that area...I get this blank look like "Yes, but what can I do about it?" nice.

I recently calmed a guy down who wasn't even my patient by apologizing for what he percieved as terrible service...his call light wasn't answered in timely fashion, etc. His family showed up and apologized for HIM!!! LOL

We nurses do need to ALWAYS welcome and help each other. My hospital is applying for Magnet status and I think we will get it. That should be the goal of every hospital. Patients first. WWFND? What would Florence Nightengale Do? LOL