New Grads in the ICU - Summer 2013

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Hey everyone! I am a new grad that will be starting my first nursing job in the ICU! I precepted in an ICU as well. This thread is for all new grads starting in an ICU this summer! We can compare notes, support and vent with one another.

Hey everyone,

I love the idea of this thread. I graduated in May and will be starting in the MICU in August! It will be great to talk with fellow ICU new grads.

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Hey Everyone!

Love this idea, I graduated in April this year as well. My final placement was in the General Systems ICU that I have now been hired into. We are pretty lucky here in Alberta, Canada though.. when you are hired into ICU you get put through a 4 week classroom course (that was paid!) that includes one clinical day a week, and then once you pass that portion, you are given 10 buddy shifts to become independent!

Currently doing those buddy shifts.. Super nervous for my first independent shift!

Also haven't heard about about my national registration exam (CRNE for us)..

So for right now.. my motto is to just keep swimming!!

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Hello!

So I may be the oddball here lol but I will be working in a pediatric CVICU that receives adult patients as well. So excited to start my orientation this upcoming Monday! :)

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

Just got the official call today that I got the job in the ICU at an awesome local hospital. I'm so siked! This is my dream job and the hospital is great! Everything and everyone has been nothing short of spectacular so far. I start the end of the month (just in time for 2 weeks notice!). Congrats to all of my fellow new graduate ICU nurses! :)

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Specializes in Trauma/Surgery ICU.
Hey Everyone!

Love this idea, I graduated in April this year as well. My final placement was in the General Systems ICU that I have now been hired into. We are pretty lucky here in Alberta, Canada though.. when you are hired into ICU you get put through a 4 week classroom course (that was paid!) that includes one clinical day a week, and then once you pass that portion, you are given 10 buddy shifts to become independent!

Currently doing those buddy shifts.. Super nervous for my first independent shift!

Also haven't heard about about my national registration exam (CRNE for us)..

So for right now.. my motto is to just keep swimming!!

The 4 weeks in classroom sounds beneficial, but only 14 shifts with a preceptor? I think most of the acclimation to an ICU takes place by working on the floor and that just doesn't sound like a long enough time. Maybe not? My institution is giving us 20 weeks, including several classes. Good luck!

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Oh wow, 20 weeks?! And that is with a buddy nurse for every single one of those shifts?

Maybe our workloads are different, but when we are deemed "independent", we are expected to take care of a stable ventilated patient. We won't be getting unstable patients for some time yet. Of course this is ICU so the patients may become unstable despite our best efforts.. but the unit seems very helpful and cohesive and everyone is very willing to lend a hand.

I don't think we get "doubled" (2 patients) until we have been working independently for 2 or 3 weeks.

Regardless.. my first independent shift is July 19.. I'll have to let you guys know how it goes haha

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Hey all! I thought I'd pop back in! I've been working in the general med/surg floors at my hospital for a while so I could learn the charting system and the resources available during my shift. I just started my ICU orientation this past week. My preceptor is awesome. Seriously though, I haven't met a bad preceptor yet at this place. So far I have almost all positive feelings about it compared to my previous place of employment (nothing bad about that one, I left on great terms, but it ratios were much higher and resources were fewer). I have a mix of traditional classes, online modules and my paired preceptor shifts. I have about 8 weeks in our MICU before I move onto SICU and then potentially CVICU.

Not to say that it's been all sunshine and rainbows, because after all, this is ICU. But I'm learning and my clinical educator made it really clear that I'm not expected to know anything yet. They know that I'm going to be completely dependent on my preceptor and have a lot of questions. It's great to feel so well supported this time around! I don't know if it's growing after my first year or if it's just how well organized this orientation is, but man, I actually feel like I'll eventually be able to do this Critical Care Float thing!

On a side note, I took my critical care didactic pretest this week, 70%! I even tested out of endocrinology, orthopedic and GI (100% on that section!). I was one shocked and happy RN. :)

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I m currently in a BSN program at UNLV and would eventually like to become a Nurse Anesthetist. This requires at least one year experience as a critical care nurse. If I am reading the posts in this thread correctly...are you telling me it is possible to go straight from BSN with no experience (other than program clinicals) and become a critical care nurse???? If so what states, hospitals, etc are you all in. My anticipated graduation is December 2014.

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I m currently in a BSN program at UNLV and would eventually like to become a Nurse Anesthetist. This requires at least one year experience as a critical care nurse. If I am reading the posts in this thread correctly...are you telling me it is possible to go straight from BSN with no experience (other than program clinicals) and become a critical care nurse???? If so what states hospitals, etc are you all in. My anticipated graduation is December 2014.[/quote']

It's possible. Get a preceptorship in the ICU. Get an internship in critical care in the summer after your junior year. Find a part time job now in a hospital because it'll help your chances as well. Good luck!

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Hey all! I thought I'd pop back in! I've been working in the general med/surg floors at my hospital for a while so I could learn the charting system and the resources available during my shift. I just started my ICU orientation this past week. My preceptor is awesome. Seriously though, I haven't met a bad preceptor yet at this place. So far I have almost all positive feelings about it compared to my previous place of employment (nothing bad about that one, I left on great terms, but it ratios were much higher and resources were fewer). I have a mix of traditional classes, online modules and my paired preceptor shifts. I have about 8 weeks in our MICU before I move onto SICU and then potentially CVICU.

Not to say that it's been all sunshine and rainbows, because after all, this is ICU. But I'm learning and my clinical educator made it really clear that I'm not expected to know anything yet. They know that I'm going to be completely dependent on my preceptor and have a lot of questions. It's great to feel so well supported this time around! I don't know if it's growing after my first year or if it's just how well organized this orientation is, but man, I actually feel like I'll eventually be able to do this Critical Care Float thing!

On a side note, I took my critical care didactic pretest this week, 70%! I even tested out of endocrinology, orthopedic and GI (100% on that section!). I was one shocked and happy RN. :)

Great job! Sounds like you're doing well. It really helps to have helpful people on your team.

I've been doing basic orientation and worked one shift on the floor so far. I had a crazy busy first day! But I definitely learned a lot. I'm starting on days but will eventually work nights. My orientation is 10 weeks.

How is everyone doing??

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Thank you @blueorchid for the advice. Wishing everyone the best.

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Hey everyone! I'm a little late :) but I am a new grad and started in the ICU 3 weeks ago. I was really happy to find this thread. How is everyone doing in there orientations/training?

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