Calling all new grads/new to the ICU starting Feb. 2013!!!!

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There are two units I'll be floating between, one is a SICU and the other is more like a MICU with lots of Neuro patients. But what ends up happening, is that all the patients kinda get mixed in, just depends on rooms and staffing.

Right now I'm training in the MICU, having a great time.

P.S. I ended up buying a lightly used Kathy White book (not the app) off of Ebay. It's hard to look on a cell phone at work, without people thinking you are texting/goofing off.

etymed

35 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

I decided on Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide- 7th ed. by Paula Derr. It's only about $20 online.

I'm going to do some drug flashcards too. They help me tremendously.

Specializes in ICU.

I forgot to mention there is also an app called Critical Guide, its $10 and well worth the money! very simple formatting but do understand what your saying about not wanting to be on your phone while at work, especially being the new person!

Specializes in ICU.

Another resource I just stumbled upon is the Auscultation Assistant website, it has samples of all heart and breath sounds,

The Auscultation Assistant - Hear Heart Murmurs, Heart Sounds, and Breath Sounds

Feel free to share any other resources you guys may have!

Specializes in ICU.

Someone else posted this on another thread, critical care tutorials. I think it may be useful...

Welcome to Critical Care Medicine Tutorials

Thanks for the links :)

ECG Simulator | SkillStat Learning - Fast, Fun and Effective!

Lots of practice with all types of arrhythmias.

monkey2008

31 Posts

Nights is definitely going to be a huge adjustment! 3 days a week of working nights and then 4 off which I feel I would use one of those days off sleeping most of the time, there goes a wasted day off! However, as mentioned, I think there will be a little less pressure.

Agreed, especially since I've never worked nights in my life. It is not lost on me though how fortunate I am to even have a job, let alone a gn internship at a magnet hospital. If they told me I had to work every weekend and holiday nights, I'd still do it. heck, I'd even pay them to work there just for the opportunity to learn and gain experience :)

ktliz

379 Posts

Specializes in critical care.

Great idea for a thread!

I started my internship in September, and am starting night shift next week with 2 more weeks of preceptorship and 2 weeks of mentorship (where my preceptor has her own assignment). My unit is 20 beds and is the only ICU in the building, so we get a little bit of everything--medical, surgical, cardiac, neuro... Everything except traumas, which go to the main campus, 10 minutes away. We are also an open heart unit but only certain nurses do hearts.

So far I am LOVING my job!!! Just nervous about going to nights, for sure, and being on my own....

As far as resources, ICUfaqs.com is great, and I am currently reading The ICU Book cover to cover. Once I finish it, I am going to start reading it again from the beginning... that's how good this book is!

Specializes in ICU.
Great idea for a thread!

I started my internship in September, and am starting night shift next week with 2 more weeks of preceptorship and 2 weeks of mentorship (where my preceptor has her own assignment). My unit is 20 beds and is the only ICU in the building, so we get a little bit of everything--medical, surgical, cardiac, neuro... Everything except traumas, which go to the main campus, 10 minutes away. We are also an open heart unit but only certain nurses do hearts.

So far I am LOVING my job!!! Just nervous about going to nights, for sure, and being on my own....

As far as resources, ICUfaqs.com is great, and I am currently reading The ICU Book cover to cover. Once I finish it, I am going to start reading it again from the beginning... that's how good this book is!

I don't start my orientation until a couple of weeks so I think I'm going to start reading the ICU book tomorrow in conjunction with the ICUfaqs. How long has a taken you to read the ICU book??

I'm super excited, yet nervous!

SNB1014, RN

306 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

I started my 12wk orientation in progressive care/imcu on Monday.

We are allowed everything except for fresh cardiac surgeries and the like as well as vents. 3 pts max. I hope I'm allowed to participate :-)

ktliz

379 Posts

Specializes in critical care.

I don't start my orientation until a couple of weeks so I think I'm going to start reading the ICU book tomorrow in conjunction with the ICUfaqs. How long has a taken you to read the ICU book??

I've been kinda casually reading it throughout my orientation. It's very well written, to the point that I consider it an "easy read." You could finish it in a couple weeks, I'm sure, but I don't know how much you would retain. Once you have actual patients scenarios to think about as you read, it really sinks in. That's why I plan on re-reading it later :)

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I'm starting Monday at a PICU at a children's hospital...it is a mix of step-down and ICU, the get all post-ops, transplants, Heme Onc, vents, neuro...pretty much everything under the sun, except cardiac. Lots of CRRT and ECMO. You can get all of the above on both sides of the unit. Has 55 beds. I have two weeks of class, Nurse Residency Class, preceptorship for 3 months, ICU class, which includes first responder/code team training...this hospital has a VERY comprehensive program. Very excited but nervous...in this case nerves are good though :) If you have room for me thanks! ;)

I have been reviewing Critical Care nursing secrets, which is a resource I used as a Senior in Nursing School, my dimensional analysis book for checking accuracy for meds that use weight-based calculation, ICU FAQs website; I'm definitely looking into the website and suggestions I have seen here!! Great thread! :)

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