Telemetry vs. NeuroScience

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Dec 31, 2001

Hard call!

When I was a new ICU nurse, I went to a seminar, the speaker was Terry Richmond, not as well known then, but now the author of several neuro nursing books. Anyway, she asked at the start of the neuro lecture, "How many of you here think the heart is the most important part of the body?" About half the room raised their hands. "You must be the CCU Nurses. How many of you think the brain is the most important organ?" About the other half of the room, including myself. "Ah, you are the ICU nurses," she said.

I did indeed think that, and I found it immensely challenging to work with head trauma pt's....but I will add, I worked with them in the acute phase. Once they are no longer acute, it can be, IMHO, a little depressing, especially if you are caring for a C2 fracture pt, who can't breath w/o a vent. I remember vividly, as a young nurse, with minimal life experience, a young beautiful black male, my age at the time, 22, who was on a rotorest bed, trached, knowing he was a living head for the rest of his life. I am ashamed to admit, I could not look him in the eyes, since whenever I did he would mouth the words, "please kill me." So, while I find neuro fascinating, know that there is a limit sometimes to the recovery these pt's can make, and I would never say that this kind of nursing does not have its own rewards, but each person has to know what they can and cannot handle deep inside. I prefer the ICU side of neuro, not the long-term, to me it can be too depressing. I know that there may be a neuro nurse or two who will tell you differently, and I am glad for that, b/c it takes all kinds of nurses, with different strengths and weaknesses to make the world complete.

I moved on from that ICU to a CT ICU. LOVED it!!! Still love it. Give me my cardiacs, esp my geriatric cardiacs, and I am in heaven!! From ICU to home care, I can't get enough cardiac. I feel it is very rewarding, b/c it is often me who determines the right weaning of IV drugs in the ICU, or picks up problems with their med combination in home health, and can usually see a dramatic improvement in a short time as a direct result of my efforts. (I admit it, I am totally into instant gratification!! )

So, if you want my TOTALLY biased opinion, go with cardiac. The HEART after all IS the most important organ of the body (as I now know!)

Good luck to you! PS, Post this on the neuro forum too, you will get cardiac junkies here! LOL!

crys · Feb 14, 2002

i currently work on a telemetry unit and absolutely love it, i think if you plan on working in er, you should learn your cardiology first as it will be a HUGE asset in er. i worked in er prior to telemetry and always felt overwhelmed with the acute cardiac pts, management, ecgs, iv's etc. now i am very comfortable with all of that. in er i had many neuro pt's as well, and the acute assessment and management seemed to be alot more straight forward and less intimidating in er. and the er is begging for cardiac nurses, it is a really good way to get off on the right foot. oh and cardiac pts are wonderful, they are receptive to teaching and all have a new lease on life .

Stormy · Mar 8, 2002

I worked Neurosurg ICU for several years and now work in ICU/CCU. I still have a love for Neuro, although I do find cardiac care fascinating and rewarding. The goals in neurosurgical nursing is not to restore what one was before, but to help the patient reach their potential given the neurological deficits present now.

I think the best thing that a new critical care nurse working in neuro will learn is assessment skills. Neuro nurses have excellent assessment skills and train themselves to watch for the most subtle changes in patient condition.

live4today, RN · Mar 8, 2002

My final clinical rotation was on a Cardiac Telemetry unit. I got my first pick of where I wanted to do that rotation, and I loved it so much that I worked Cardiac Telemetry on numerous occasions. The only neuro I have done was quite boring for me, but there was never a dull moment on the Cardiac Step-down or Cardiac Telemetry Units! Whatever you decide on, do it based on where you feel that you have the most passion, the most drive, the most 'tugging at your heart sleeves'. Best of luck to you! :)