New grads shouldn't work in ICU?

[Kayla2013]

I graduated in May and was hired in a small town four bed ICU/IMC unit. I previously have experience in a 20 bed neurological ICU unit as a nurse extern, so I have some experience in critical care. I recently have heard from many I work with that I should not have been hired in the ICU as a new grad and that there is no way I'll be ready to work by myself since I need nursing experience before I gain critical thinking skills. This is extremely frustrating to me since I know I would be a capable and safe nurse in this unit working by myself, and my manager agrees. Any suggestions on how I can handle this negative feedback or has anyone experienced the same thing?

[KenH]

I can definitely see their point of view. Honestly, you don't even know what you don't know and a more experienced ICU nurse can run circles around you in terms of avoiding complications before they even rear their ugly head. Show confidence in your abilities and as always, be a sponge when you do see new things.

It can be done ,It will be brutal, You will miss things, make mistakes and it will effect patient care.

A lot depends on how or if you can work with your co-worker and get there support,

and how badly you want to succeed. YOU will have to prove yourself capable.

Work smarter, and harder, ask for help, offer help, ask questions, Be emotionally strong.

Try to figure out where your patient is now and where you want them to be and how

YOU ARE GOING TO GET THEM THERE, you have to be the eyes and ears of the doctors.

Remember that how you do will, both positively and negatively will effect those new grads that will try to follow you.

NO, it not fair but that's the way it is. Be a NURSE

[cdsga]

I started out in ICU after nursing school and I have never regretted that path. We had a stringent ICU course that was 12 weeks in length and were rigorously tested and given clinicals as new nurses on the unit. I learned from my diploma program, that med/surg was not for me as we basically staffed the hospital doing extra shifts as student nurses and I had plenty of opportunities to test the waters.

Nursing better start learning to truly embrace and support succession strategies soon and learn to staff appropriately to teach our new nurses.

[chacomom]

You go girl! I started in ICU in 1974 fresh out of graduation from a BSN program It was hard and at times a little scary, but after a year I had acquired most of the skills I needed. The most important thing is to ask when you don't know something-which can be pretty frequent. Also keep asking until you get the answer you need. Everybody has to learn sometime. Go to conferences and read. You'll be surprised how fast you become competent.

Show the naysayers they are wrong.

[Bringonthenight]

It depends on the grad. Some people are born to be critical care nurses and thrive- others struggle and take a long time to learn how to critically think.

Bottom line if my loved one were critically ill id feel more comfortable with an experienced ICU nurse looking after them, I could trust that nurse to pick up on some small detail that perhaps the novice wouldn't notice simply because they've got experience. Things can go bad quick in critical care!

But prove the haters wrong! thrive, learn, absorb and kick a**! You got hired in the unit, the manager obviously saw potential in your capabilities.

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

I worked as a CCU tech and rode on a mobile Coronary care unit as an asst to the team leader which was an RN for 5 years in the meantime I went to LPN school and stayed in the same CCU I worked for another 3 yrs. I have heard I don't belong in any ICU or CCU or ER because I was an LPN. But listened to every thing the RN's taught me I took every CCU course that came around the bend. Even EKG's. I asked questions until I knew it hands down. I taught EKG classes. I heard all the time that LPN's don't belong in critical care unit and yet When I retired I was working in a large urban ER. After a while, when you show them you know it, they will leave you alone. Prove them wrong. I worked in Critical care units for 38 yrs

[ChipNurse]

I have heard many different opinions on this matter. Some feel new grads do well in the ICU since they don't come with any bad habits and are able to molded to the specific unit expectations and others feel new grads lack critical thinking skills. I have also heard about nurses that come from medsurg who also lack critical thinking skills and do not do well in the unit. I think it really depends on the person, and how hard they are willing to work.

[Mudwoman]

A recent new grad that went to work in our ICU decided that since the patient was NPO she would put all his meds under his tongue and allow them to dissolve sublingually. The patient aspirated the meds and then needed a STAT Bronch. For every new grad that shouldn't be hired right out of school for a specialty like ICU, there are lots that just have the aptitude to be there. I think a lot depends on the orientation program that is available and the support of the other seasoned nurses, as well as the new grad.

So, if you love ICU, then work and study hard to be a really good ICU nurse. If you don't like it, then find the area of nursing that you do like. Not everyone can work ICU, just as not everyone is cut out to work in ED or LTC or Education. Everyone should find where they belong, regardless of how long or short they have been a nurse.

[DalekRN]

Just as long as you stay really humble and play it extremely safe.and conservative, you can totally kick ass.in the ICU. You go!!!

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

A recent new grad that went to work in our ICU decided that since the patient was NPO she would put all his meds under his tongue and allow them to dissolve sublingually. ...

This just shows that some people get through nursing school somehow without common sense. The same thing could (and I am sure has) happen on a med/surg, daystay or any other unit with a new nurse, it is not specific to ICU.

[sham rai]

let dogs bark in front of the mountain it makes no difference. the point is people will discourage you in the beginning but will get tired of talking abt such thing....... talking from experience as a new grad

[sham rai]

did this really happen.....i don't think so its really stupid to do so

[ICULINDA]

I just got hired in the ICU as a new grad. I've been in the medical field for 12 years holding different positions. The hospital I work for has a very good and intense orientation program for critical care staff and the orientation is 16 weeks before your "on your own". I was recommended to apply for ICU by my critical care instructor in school and by the icu nurses preceptors. If I didn't have such a huge support system I would be discouraged. I think you get what you put into it. Kick butt and show them your willing to learn. Don't be cocky and rude but don't be bullied either.