New grad to critical care units

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Apr 23, 2007

No experience at all?

Honestly, it will be difficult. It will require some outside attetion, meaning you will have to study outside of work. You will go through a critical care class, but it will still take some time to put it all together.

I had 10 years of PCT experience mostly in an ICU, and EMT experience, and I still found it very, very difficult. But, being a new nurse, wherever you choose to work will be difficult. It's hard to have to be the one making important decisions for patients.

So if ICU is your calling, then go for it! Be prepared to learn a lot!

redicedtea · Apr 23, 2007

Thanks for the response. I am actually considering it only because they have a very nice training program for 20 weeks (5 mos). They have one-on-one preceptorships, didactics etc.

I think it is a very good opportunity for me but it scares me a lot!!!

land64shark · Apr 23, 2007

I'm also interested in one particular hospital here in Florida because of the Versant residency program. 22 weeks of new grad orientation. Can't beat that with a stick.

ervr27 · Dec 8, 2008

I am a new grad in a cardiac critical care area and I am fining it extremely difficult right now. :sniff: We also had a critical care class and a long orientation period. I go to work everyday, scared to death:eek:, I have good days and bad, I'm learning new things I didn't know the day before. I do a lot of studying when I'm off just to have an idea of what the heck is really going on.

Besides for nursing school, its the hardest thing I've ever done, and I am going to stick with it, because its all difficult when you're new.:redbeathe

MzKGoRN · Dec 8, 2008

This big hospital in california is offering a versant rn residency for new grads to fill different critical care units/MS units.
Do you think it will be extremely difficult to work in a critical care unit considering the lack of experience?
Any new grads in critical care units now? How is it so far?
They have opening for Surgical ICU, Cardiothoracic ICU, Abdominothoracic ICU etc...
Need help!

I graduated in May of 08 and I work on a cardiac critical care unit, I personally believe it depends on the person and if you up for the challenge and a challenge it will be.

I believe if the residency is awesome and you have good perceptors than you can learn alot. It does take some time to adjust to critical care, but I would not change the learning experience for nothing. BTW i love working in critical care. I knew critical care is what I wanted to do, it didn't make any sense to go and work on another unit that I did not won't to be on, so I decided to start were I wanted to be.

I say if critical care is where you want to work, go for it and just remember it will not be easy, and just stay focus and try to learn as much as you can.:heartbeat