Hello and welcome to my unit!
I am Colleen Fortier, MSN, RN, PCCN, Nurse Manager of the 5 South Cardiology Stepdown, also known as 5S. We are located on the 5th floor at Vanderbilt University Hospital.
The environment on our unit is team-oriented, fast-paced, and fulfilling. We care for adult patients aged 18 and older who are being treated for Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmias to name a few.
Our patients are unique because they are the stepdown from our Cardiac Medicine ICU. We primarily treat patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. One of the perks of working on my unit is the alternative scheduling patterns used in conjunction with the team-oriented approach to deliver high-quality patient care. Our nurses are successful because they have a dedicated leadership team, which includes Clinical Staff Leaders (CSL's) who work alongside them in the shift leader role and to assist in delivering fundamental care.
We orient new nurses to our unit by providing 9 weeks of orientation with a mix of cardiac-specific classes, adult hospital-specific classes, and dedicated shifts with preceptors.
We encourage professional growth.
We encourage professional growth. If your career goal is to take certification exams, become a nurse practitioner or grow into a leadership role, our unit is a great place to launch your career.
If you have any questions about my unit, please email me at colleen.fortier@vumc.org or visit Work for Vanderbilt Health: Nursing Careers to explore open nursing positions.
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