Any new grads starting in ICU?

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2005

You're right about the learning curve in critical care. I currently work as a critical care tech in an SICU. There are often no less than 6 drips going on at a time and tubes coming out of every orifice. I've seen as many as 12 drips. The vents are intimidating and tend to alarm every time the patient moves. Documenation has to be meticulous and hourly. You also have to get used to treating people you know are going to be dead within days. Not that everyone who comes into intensive care is going to die. But you get to recognize the ones who will. The long term talkies are the hardest. When they crash and pass, it gets to you, especially if you have to code them and they need to just go now. At least it does me.

I thought of going directly into critical care on graduation, but after a good deal of thought, I might try 6 months in med surg or tele first. The only thing that would change my mind would be a really supportive critical care orientation.

It can be done. Good luck to you. Be sure to ask for help before you get in over your head and you should be ok. I love critical care.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2005

i thought of going directly into critical care on graduation, but after a good deal of thought, i might try 6 months in med surg or tele first. the only thing that would change my mind would be a really supportive critical care orientation.

post script:

as it turns out, it seems i spoke too soon. i'm taking an offer from a trauma icu in a hospital in the northeast, so i will be joining you. i was promised a strong orientation. i hope they deliver.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 11, 2005

I actually started a Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program at a hospital in New York. It's one year long, the first 3 months or so they have us on computers going through ECCO (Essentials of Critical Care Orientation), created by the AACN. It contains 8 modules, incl. cardiac, endocrine, pulmonary, endocrine, renal, GI, hematology and multisystem. We spend half the day in the computer lab and the other half on the floors getting practice on what we learned in the other half of the day. It's very well structured and afterwards you will be placed with a preceptor on your respective unit. I'll be on the CTU. I would not have gone into critical care if there was not a program like this around.

XIGRIS · Aug 12, 2005

I was fortunate enough (or crazy enough ) to land a job in the SICU as a new grad. I start Aug 15th. Although I'm terribly excited to get started, I'm a little worried about the steep learning curve. I mean the SICU at a level 1 is no joke!! Any other new grads have this experience (or gonna have)? Let us hear from you!!

Congratulations and goodluck!

You will be find. I started in CVICU as a fresh grad 15 years ago. If you have a good preceptor, you will be find. I like training fresh grad students because they are like sponge. They absorb everything.

Again, good luck.

Bean RN · Aug 17, 2005

I actually started a Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program at a hospital in New York. It's one year long, the first 3 months or so they have us on computers going through ECCO (Essentials of Critical Care Orientation), created by the AACN. It contains 8 modules, incl. cardiac, endocrine, pulmonary, endocrine, renal, GI, hematology and multisystem. We spend half the day in the computer lab and the other half on the floors getting practice on what we learned in the other half of the day. It's very well structured and afterwards you will be placed with a preceptor on your respective unit. I'll be on the CTU. I would not have gone into critical care if there was not a program like this around.

How is it going???

C

NurseMeg · Aug 19, 2005

I am! I'm currently working as a nurse extern in the SICU of a level 1 trauma center, and will be transferring over to MICU as a graduate nurse next week :)

NurseSuzy · Aug 22, 2005

I was fortunate enough (or crazy enough ) to land a job in the SICU as a new grad. I start Aug 15th. Although I'm terribly excited to get started, I'm a little worried about the steep learning curve. I mean the SICU at a level 1 is no joke!! Any other new grads have this experience (or gonna have)? Let us hear from you!!

:uhoh21: "fortunate enough ( or crazy enough) "

My sentiments exactly! I also did this in a ICU/CCU Unit ( we rotate from both). Six beds on each side. Today was my fourth day of orientation. I was left today wondering if this is a typical orientation!! I had a patient today. My preceptor reminded of what to do, and assisted with things. A vent patient to name but one problem, sedated, needed packed cells and FFP, etc. In my opinion a VERY hard patient. My preceptor also had two other patients besides this one. She helped me , but I often felt I needed more.

I came home today so stressed that it brought me here and left me wide awake with blurring eyes! ( 12 hour shifts). I charted on this patient all day ( and signed the charting, the medex, blood administration sheets, etc. But the part that worried me was that most things were not checked behind me , my notes specifically! And those are what goes to court if something goes wrong! . I spent about 4 days on this unit in nursing school and those were easy days with little expected as it was very close to graduation and boards, exit exams, etc were the worry at that time, and the instructors didn't stress too much. I feel like my preceptor assumes I know much more than I do! I left thinking " I need to spend at least 5 hours of every day off reading up on this stuff at home! " I left thinking " I need a drink!"

My hubby was joking when I passed the boards and came home excited " ahh, RN just stands for Registered Nitwit", ( he was only joking) but now I wonder if it doesn't stand currently for " Responsible Nitwit!"

GOD HELP US!!!

Bean RN · Aug 22, 2005

:uhoh21: "fortunate enough ( or crazy enough) "
My sentiments exactly! I also did this in a ICU/CCU Unit ( we rotate from both). Six beds on each side. Today was my fourth day of orientation. I was left today wondering if this is a typical orientation!! I had a patient today. My preceptor reminded of what to do, and assisted with things. A vent patient to name but one problem, sedated, needed packed cells and FFP, etc. In my opinion a VERY hard patient. My preceptor also had two other patients besides this one. She helped me , but I often felt I needed more.
I came home today so stressed that it brought me here and left me wide awake with blurring eyes! ( 12 hour shifts). I charted on this patient all day ( and signed the charting, the medex, blood administration sheets, etc. But the part that worried me was that most things were not checked behind me , my notes specifically! And those are what goes to court if something goes wrong! . I spent about 4 days on this unit in nursing school and those were easy days with little expected as it was very close to graduation and boards, exit exams, etc were the worry at that time, and the instructors didn't stress too much. I feel like my preceptor assumes I know much more than I do! I left thinking " I need to spend at least 5 hours of every day off reading up on this stuff at home! " I left thinking " I need a drink!"
My hubby was joking when I passed the boards and came home excited " ahh, RN just stands for Registered Nitwit", ( he was only joking) but now I wonder if it doesn't stand currently for " Responsible Nitwit!"
GOD HELP US!!!

I hear you and can relate,

Stand strong and never do anything you feel would jepordize your license. And why does your preceptor have additional patients???

Your in my prayers.

NurseSuzy · Aug 22, 2005

I hear you and can relate,
Stand strong and never do anything you feel would jepordize your license. And why does your preceptor have additional patients???
Your in my prayers.

Well, it appears to me that she didn't loose any patients when she got me, she just got a orientee. She had three patients today as did the other RN working with us. We had two RN's ( not counting me) , a secretary , no LPN and at one point all six beds were full . ( this just the ICU side we were on today.).

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 22, 2005

How is it going???
C

It's actually going very well. It's a lot of work, but that's what I expect from a program like this. They finally gave us the names of our preceptors and the shift they work. Starting in mid-September, we'll be on the same shift as our preceptor, and it'll be like that til the end of January, or until they feel we're ready to go out on our own and then from Feb. on, we should be making our own schedules. It is truly a great program!!!