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.

So far I've had 2 weeks on the floor! I'm loving it! I have an awesome preceptor and have learned a ton already! My orientation is 12 weeks.. How is everyone else's going? :)

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

Almost done with my first week of orientation! Not on the unit yet though, that will start on tuesday. Everyone in my cohort is a little nervous about the BKAT that we have to take next week. I don't care if my manager said it's just an "assessment" and not a test, I still consider it a test. Makes me want to study all weekend on everything in life, even though they told us specifically not to. Otherwise I'm excited! We are going to be oriented to the classroom part of orientation on monday and learn how to use ECCO. Besides the test I'm looking forward to being able to move around the floor. My cohort is all experienced nurses (2 with step down experience and 1 with med/surg experience) I'm the only new grad between the two critical care units! Eeekk.

Hope everyone's orientation is going well! Any recommendations on study material? I know there is a lot of info in the forums, based on that I rented the ICU book and have the Critical Care made Incredibly easy books :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Float Pool, MICU, CTICU.
Almost done with my first week of orientation! Not on the unit yet though, that will start on tuesday. Everyone in my cohort is a little nervous about the BKAT that we have to take next week. I don't care if my manager said it's just an "assessment" and not a test, I still consider it a test. Makes me want to study all weekend on everything in life, even though they told us specifically not to. Otherwise I'm excited! We are going to be oriented to the classroom part of orientation on monday and learn how to use ECCO. Besides the test I'm looking forward to being able to move around the floor. My cohort is all experienced nurses (2 with step down experience and 1 with med/surg experience) I'm the only new grad between the two critical care units! Eeekk.

Hope everyone's orientation is going well! Any recommendations on study material? I know there is a lot of info in the forums, based on that I rented the ICU book and have the Critical Care made Incredibly easy books :)

Hello! This is my first time quoting someone on my app, so hopefully it doesn't look like a mess lol. I apologize in advance!

I'm newbie that recently started as well. Wecolme to the ICU! I wouldn't worry to much about the BKAT because you'll most likely take it twice to see how much knowledge you've acquired through clinical and ECCO. They say the average new grad BKAT score is between 72-74%. I got an 80% woot woot lol. You sound a lot like myself. Two weeks before my start date, I was preparing myself (patho,hemodynamics, vasoactive gtts, etc). Not because of BKAT because I've never heard of it til orientation. Rather, I like to be prepared and review any cardiothoracic related material.

As a new grad we have a steep learning curve. I'm doing whatever I can to lessen that curve by preparing. I did my senior practicum in my unit which has help tremendously with decreasing the curve! Also, I worked as a nurse and monitor tech during school in our other ICU and know my rhythm like no other lol. In addition, having early exposure to the critical care world.

In terms of ECCO course, it is a fantasic tool to help us out! It's pretty lengthy, but provides useful information. Just remember to be thankful for the opportunity. We recently started using ECCO courses. Former nurses are not allowed to take the course. It's only offered to new grads/transferring nurses to the unit.

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Specializes in med surge.

I love this thread also! I start orientation for the ICU on Monday the 12th. So nervous, yet so very excited. I have always wanted the CC/ED units but was always told that new grads don't start there. Feeling really blessed. Will get those books so that I can feel comfortable in my own mind on Monday.

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In terms of ECCO course, it is a fantasic tool to help us out! It's pretty lengthy, but provides useful information. Just remember to be thankful for the opportunity.

I have LOVED using the ECCO's! I am amazed at how much I've learned from them. We have access to them for a whole year from the time we start them. I'm planning on going back to them once I've had more hands on practice. I just finished the hemodynamic monitoring and I had a really hard time incorporating all the information because I've never worked with balloon pumps or swans. I'm too hand on to learn those aspects, and how to integrate all the info, from a computer alone.

I realized last week that I'm starting to feel comfortable being in the ICU. My first week I was asking myself what on earth I was doing. I know I'll have similar feelings when I get off on my own, but still, it's good to feel like I can grasp a "stable" 2:1 at this point in my orientation. I'm done with my first unit (I'm a float) and I'm on to my second for three! Plus, I've only got one more ECCO day, and then I get to go back to my 12 hours! Wooohooo! :) (Oh how I have missed my three day weeks!)

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Hello! I am starting this week on stepdown and then I'll be cross-trained to ICU. I'm so so nervous. I just bought AACN's Essentials for Progressive Care Nursing.

For those that have been in the unit for a couple of weeks already, how are you doing? Any tips or advice?

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Hello! I am starting this week on stepdown and then I'll be cross-trained to ICU. I'm so so nervous. I just bought AACN's Essentials for Progressive Care Nursing.

For those that have been in the unit for a couple of weeks already, how are you doing? Any tips or advice?

My best advice would be to take every opportunity as a learning experience! Don't be afraid to try something new or to learn something that you have never seen before. Go on every code and participate as much as possible. Speak up. Tell all the nurses if they have something cool, or something new, to let you come watch/help and check it out. Let your preceptor know what you are lacking and need more practice in. Be your own advocate for the best orientation you can have! You'll thank yourself later! :) best of luck!

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How is everyone doing on their orientation? Anyone on their own yet?

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I am a May 2012 grad and can't find a job anywhere as a new nurse. (Thank God I still have my first career job)Where do you guys live that they allow new grads in an ICU? That's my dream job on my way to burn someday but any ICU job I see wants experienced only.

I live in Chicago area btw...

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Orientation is going well. I was on days for a few weeks then I'm on nights now. I like nights so much better so far. I will be on my own toward the end of this month, coming up fast!!

How about everyone else??

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I am a May 2012 grad and can't find a job anywhere as a new nurse. (Thank God I still have my first career job)Where do you guys live that they allow new grads in an ICU? That's my dream job on my way to burn someday but any ICU job I see wants experienced only.

I live in Chicago area btw...

Also in the Chicago area and I can't agree more. That would be like a dream around here.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

Week 5 so far! My preceptor is awesome and super knowledgeable. I'm so thankful because I'm more of a hands on learner and 1:1 explanations work so much better for me than class lectures. I've been doing a lot of things by myself so far. We've only had 1 or 2 REALLY critical patients, those times she just had be do 1:1 with them. But so far, despite the unit being a little "slower" than the upcoming months, it's a great opportunity to get my time management and documentation skills down pat before as she says it "shiiieeeetttt hits the fan!"

I love it! I am sooo grateful to be where I am now, but anyone else feel like their brain is about to explode with all of the information that's being packed into our brains?? I don't feel like I've every stopped studying for something this whole time haha. :nailbiting:

I have LOVED using the ECCO's! I am amazed at how much I've learned from them. We have access to them for a whole year from the time we start them. I'm planning on going back to them once I've had more hands on practice. I just finished the hemodynamic monitoring and I had a really hard time incorporating all the information because I've never worked with balloon pumps or swans. I'm too hand on to learn those aspects, and how to integrate all the info, from a computer alone.

I'm having issues incorporating/processing the hemodynamic information too! Does anyone have any tips on how to make things easier to understand?? I haven't had a change to read the Hemodynamic document on ICUFaqs to see if it would make more sense to me there.

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