Will Cardiac count as Med/Surg experience for new LPN grad?

[Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP]

Hi all,

I'm still months away from graduating LPN school, I work as a PCT on a Cardiac Step down unit now. My unit director said that I'd have a job there as an LPN once I graduated, is that a good idea? Will it count for the med/surg experience everyone says to get first. Any thing wrong with moving from PCT to LPN on the same floor? Any thoughts as going Cardiac vs more traditional med/surg or some other route such as ER, etc.

Thanks

Tony

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

Hi all,

I'm still months away from graduating LPN school, I work as a PCT on a Cardiac Step down unit now. My unit director said that I'd have a job there as an LPN once I graduated, is that a good idea? Will it count for the med/surg experience everyone says to get first. Any thing wrong with moving from PCT to LPN on the same floor? Any thoughts as going Cardiac vs more traditional med/surg or some other route such as ER, etc.

Thanks

Tony

If you want to work in cardiac, I'd say stay there. There is really no reason to get "med/surg" experience nowadays. I"d say where you work would depend upon what you want to pursue in your career. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP]

Thanks for the reply,

I like cardio, most of the patients seem happy to be helped. I've always been told to get at least 1 - 2 years med/surg, I was wondering what I'd be missing out on by staying in the cardiac field. I realize I'm just a PCT right now, but I'm used to what meds are given on the cardiac floor and how they affect the vitals, procedures to be followed pre/post cabg, etc.

Anyway I have a few more months before I really need to decide, with the way the economy is, I'll be doing good just to get a nursing job, lots of nurses being called off now due to budget cuts.

Tony

[flyakite80]

I would imagine it would, most of the patients on our telemetry floor would be med/surg patients if they didn't have some type of cardiac history or new cardiac issue. We also get med/surg overflow patients. And I agree that you don't necessarily have to get med/surg experience. I started out on the telemetry floor fresh out of school, even as a graduate nurse before I got my license. I've been told by some of my co-workers that it's a good thing to start out in cardiac because alot of people that start out on med/surg get very comfortable and are intimidated by cardiac units. So if you are already working on a cardiac unit, I don't see the reason for going backwards...?

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Yes, and it sounds like a good place to work since they value you.