I just got offered a GN internship in the CVICU of a teaching hospital that does heart and lung transplants, among other things. I want to work in critical care, but my first choice was the MSICU. I think I was offered the position in CVICU because they probably thought my skills and experience would be better suited for it (I'm taking ACLS and doing a clinical rotation in a heart hospital). I can't say that I disagree with their reasoning, however, MSICU just seems more interesting to me.
I certainly don't mean for anyone to take offense to me thinking that CVICU is not as interesting as MSICU. Of course, I will never know until I try it, and I am going to give it a fair chance. I could end up loving it! However, I'm having mixed emotions, and I want to get pumped up for my internship in CVICU. So please, tell me why you love working in CVICU/CCU.
I would really appreciate any insight, advice, stories, etc. Thank you!!
I am also a "mature" new grad who just got a position in a CCU. I am encouraged to read your post because now that I took the job, I am getting a little nervous about the huge learning curve.
Im not a nurse yet (6 more months, yay), but I work as a tech on a CICU (really called the "Dump unit") so we get a bit of everything and I gotta tell you there are definitely ups and downs to this unit. The unit is very exciting, always something interesting going on and to learn about. On the other had we get a lot of long timers - you know the ones that should have been outta there a long time ago, but for some reason (depression or fear), refuses to be weined off of the vent and eventually start deteriorating. That is the worst part of the job for me and that's why I think I would do better in a Cardiac Surgical unit instead. But like the other posters said: try out the one that you are drawn to first and if you love it stay, if not move on.
Very true, and well-said. Autonomy is HUGE. I also work CVICU. Our surgeons (for the most part) want you to act first, then call them. Otherwise, you could be on the phone, or waiting for a call-back...all the while your patient is crashing harder and harder. Understanding and being comfortable with hemodynamic and vasoactive gtts is essential. You have to be able to walk into that unstable pt's room, with the IABP, Swan, vent, 4 chest tubes, 6 different drips and be able to quickly and accurately assess the situation and take action. There's very little room for error, usually. It sounds scary, and it is. Fortunately, however, not every cardiac surgery pt is like this. Most do fairly well and have predictable plans of care. But, like everything else in life I suppose, things can change in an instant.
On a less dramatic/scary note,...once you get comfortable with the stress and energy level, and start to know your stuff...your surgeons become more and more comfortable with you, usually let you do more stuff and cut a few apron strings, and you experience an ICU nursing tempo that is like no other (IMHO). One of the best feelings for me is having that really unstable pt get better bc of my actions; makes me feel like I made a difference. And also...having that no-nonsense, no-room-for-errors surgeon tell you that you did a good job.
J.....I have worked in ICU, CCU and CVICU where I currently work. CVICU, as someone else mentioned is an area where I believe you have to most autonomy due to the patient population. Most CVICUs I have been to allow you a lot more freedom to do whatever you need to do for a patient, wheather its starting drips/pressors, giving blood, making changes based on swan readings and equipment, ect. There are many times in which you will just have to understand a multitude of drugs and hemodynamics that go along with them based on your swan readins and BP and adjust them accordingly. I work in a CVICU that does not do transplants, so for you its going to be even more exciting. Pretty much every day that I work I see something differnt or take care of a different patient. We run VADS, IABP's, CRRT, Vents, ect, ect.........basically all the normal stuff, but aside from that we also take traumas and every other type of ICU patient you can think of with the exception of bolts. We do everything that they do, however they dont take VADs and IABP's and most of their patients rarely have Swans. In my opinion, it is a lot easier to learn a bolt then it is to learn 15 drips and their hemodynamic effects, VADS, IABP's (and their proper timing, waveforms,ect) and the extreme fluctuation in Post-op Valve patients. You will learn to manage severe bleeding and a multitude of other problems. You will soon find that CT surgeons are going to expect AND demand that you funtion at a higher level than most of the other units, and youre going to have to if you want to excel at what you do. I truly believe that once you are proficient in CV or have worked there, that you can work anywhere. Good luck.
Thanks for your post on this. I have been away from Nursing for some time, and am about to start the clinical portion of my Reentry program in a CVICU. All of my past experience was in CCU, with a very strong interventional cardiology background as well. I plan to study CVS nursing books between now and then, and looking forward to this experience. I am hoping with my past background, and the maturity I have, this will be a good transition for me back into Cardiovascular Nursing. Any tips prior to my starting would be appreciated.
sonshineRN
4 Posts
I am also a "mature" new grad who just got a position in a CCU. I am encouraged to read your post because now that I took the job, I am getting a little nervous about the huge learning curve.