New Grad transition

Cardiac ICU

Rhythm, perfusion, and post-intervention vigilance for complex hearts.

All work areas Open transition lessons

New Grad library snapshot

Live counts for the transition-to-practice pathway — scoped inventory, not the full NCLEX-RN marketing corpus.

What new grads need to know

Know your unit’s anticoagulation and antiplatelet targets after PCI or surgery.
Arrhythmia recognition is a team sport — treat unstable rhythms first.
Fluid shifts after bypass or valvular surgery change inotrope needs quickly.

Common patient presentations

Low cardiac output states and vasoplegia after surgery.
Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response.
Acute coronary syndromes under invasive monitoring.

Priority assessments

Chest tube output trends and mediastinal widening concerns.
Peripheral perfusion, lactate, and mixed venous saturation when available.
Pain and sternal stability affecting cough and pulmonary toilet.

Safety risks

Bleeding on dual antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation.
Electrolyte-driven arrhythmias — especially potassium and magnesium.
Delirium and immobility after long runs of sedation.

Medications, labs, and equipment

Medications

Inotropes and vasodilators titrated to explicit endpoints.
Antiarrhythmics with ECG monitoring and interaction awareness.
Diuretics with renal perfusion context.

Labs & monitoring

Troponins and CK-MB trends per protocol.
Coagulation panels around procedures or bleeding.
ABG for oxygenation, ventilation, and lactate.

Equipment & environment

Temporary pacing wires and pacemaker settings.
IABP or mechanical support interfaces when present.
Continuous telemetry with alarm fatigue management.

Communication & reporting

Cardiac surgery sign-out including drains, wires, and echo plans.
Rapid escalation for tamponade physiology or sudden hypotension.
Family updates after cath lab or OR milestones.

Study modes for this unit

Use the transition pathway for lessons and bank questions; flashcards and longer sets open inside the app with the New Grad pathway id so your tier stays aligned.

New Grad transition

Cardiac ICU

Rhythm, perfusion, and post-intervention vigilance for complex hearts.

All work areas Open transition lessons

New Grad library snapshot

Live counts for the transition-to-practice pathway — scoped inventory, not the full NCLEX-RN marketing corpus.

What new grads need to know

Know your unit’s anticoagulation and antiplatelet targets after PCI or surgery.
Arrhythmia recognition is a team sport — treat unstable rhythms first.
Fluid shifts after bypass or valvular surgery change inotrope needs quickly.

Common patient presentations

Low cardiac output states and vasoplegia after surgery.
Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response.
Acute coronary syndromes under invasive monitoring.

Priority assessments

Chest tube output trends and mediastinal widening concerns.
Peripheral perfusion, lactate, and mixed venous saturation when available.
Pain and sternal stability affecting cough and pulmonary toilet.

Safety risks

Bleeding on dual antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation.
Electrolyte-driven arrhythmias — especially potassium and magnesium.
Delirium and immobility after long runs of sedation.

Medications, labs, and equipment

Medications

Inotropes and vasodilators titrated to explicit endpoints.
Antiarrhythmics with ECG monitoring and interaction awareness.
Diuretics with renal perfusion context.

Labs & monitoring

Troponins and CK-MB trends per protocol.
Coagulation panels around procedures or bleeding.
ABG for oxygenation, ventilation, and lactate.

Equipment & environment

Temporary pacing wires and pacemaker settings.
IABP or mechanical support interfaces when present.
Continuous telemetry with alarm fatigue management.

Communication & reporting

Cardiac surgery sign-out including drains, wires, and echo plans.
Rapid escalation for tamponade physiology or sudden hypotension.
Family updates after cath lab or OR milestones.

Study modes for this unit

Use the transition pathway for lessons and bank questions; flashcards and longer sets open inside the app with the New Grad pathway id so your tier stays aligned.