by ONCRN84

Hello everyone! I've been a nurse for a couple years, most of which was oncology and medical. I keep falling into oncology positions because it's where my experience in, but recently I feel really pulled to critical care. There's a few hospitals around here with ICU/CCU positions posted and I've been applying for them. I have an interview in a couple weeks and I was wondering what I should be looking for in an orientation program, having no critical care or cardiac experience? I'm very willing and able to learn and I have basic acute care experience, but I just don't know what to look for in an orientation to make sure I'm properly trained. In the hospital I used to work at, people with no critical care experience were started in a telemetry unit first, then worked into ICU, so the idea of starting straight into ICU is intimidating to me!

Thanks in advance... hopefully I'll be around more!

Re: Oncology to CCU/ICU...

A really good ICU orientation will have adequate education, ie: a critical care course that they put you through and several months of orientation. I went to my unit as a new grad and we got a 3 month critical care course, a 5-6 total orientation period (longer for some if they needed it) 12-lead EKG courses, ACLS, and multiple educational opportunities. Even experienced floor nurses get the critical care class and a 4-5 month orientation. What I think is REALLY important is the unit director... what is the attitude? Will they take time to work with you if you need it? Or will they let you go if they feel like you aren't ready after an X amount of time?