What is a Cardiac Care Unit?

2019RNBSN2019, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2019

Congrats on your interview! As someone who was only able to shadow in a CCU once, I can give you a very brief overview of it. It’s basically a floor for acute cardiac patients: MI, ACS, arrhythmias, unresponsive HTN, CHF, post-op cardiac surgery, etc. In the hospital I was at, the nurses were critical care certified and basically dealt with all “intensive” cardiac patients except for those needing rewarming or had extensive complications. On the floor I was on the nurses had 2-4 patients. A typical day consisted of morning reports, morning meds (antihypertensives, antiarrythmics, diuretics, statins), assisting with AM care/repositioning, patient education, preparing for any procedures, afternoon meds, repositioning, preparing patients for dinner, and etc. The patients would get bedside chest x rays, go off the floor for MRIs, be on telemetry, get stent placements, have external pacemakers, and have lots of IV meds. It’s definitely going to be a fantastic learning experience. However, it’s going to be a lot to learn and stressful at times. These patients may appear stable one minute and decline in status the next so you must have good observation skills and always be on top of your game. If you have a passion for cardiac patients, then this may be your calling. But, if it bores you, you might want to go in another direction. If possible, I would ask HR if you could also arrange for a shadowing opportunity (even if just for an hour) as this is a great chance to learn more about the specific unit and witness nurses first hand! Hope this helps and best of luck!