new grads in icu

[irismae]

Hi everybody,

I graduate from an ADN program in December. My goal is to be a CRNA. Logically, my next step would be to obtain my BSN while working in ICU. The thing is, I have heard some negative things about new grads starting in ICU (including form some of my instructors). How does everyone feel about this? I know it will be tough and I will need to study and work very hard to learn everything I need to know to be a excellent ICU nurse. I am a good student, I have a 3.9 GPA. My biggest problem is that I tend to doubt myself/low self confidence :chair: To be honest ICU scares me. Do you think I should start in Med-surg or a stepdown unit like some people suggest, or would it be a waste of time, since I ultimitly need/want to work in ICU. What have some of your experiences been as new grads in ICU? Any advise would be totally appreciated.

[AL bug]

IMHO... a good ICU nurse is able to manage crisis without freaking out, organize and prioritize tasks, think critically and seek information to the rationale of treatments (this makes you smarter), communicate intelligently with physicians but still be able to communicate with families of all educational backgrounds, show compassion to the patients and do for them what makes them more comfortable even when they are out of it and won't remember that you did it sometimes (drugs), and still have a sense of humor to not go crazy actually caring about all these strangers you have poured your life into for the last 12 hrs.

Hope all that made sense. I loved the atmosphere of the ICU, but got dissatisfied with the grunt work. You can never imagine how much you can learn from it until you go there. I felt I am capable of making a bigger contribution to healthcare and to the patients through anesthsia and so far I am enjoying it.

[RNConnieF]

Go straight to the ICU, do not pass Med-Surg. In the ICU the skill you'll use most is your own "feeling" that there is something going on with your patient. The second quality you'll use a lot is knowing when to ask for help, a second assessment, or an experienced oponion. You have to trust your intuition.

[MICU RN]

Go for it!

Don't waste your time on the floor. I went right into a busy sicu and yes it was hard and stressful. I than went into a super busy level one trauma ER and now I am in a great MICU. I t would have been a waste of time to go to the floor, it is a totally different mind set on the floor. I have the greatest respect for good floor nurses, but it is not the place to be if you want to go to crna school. Good luck! With the shortage you shouldn't have any problem finding an ICU to start in.