[Deb123j]

I did a clinical rotation in ICU and loved it...although at times it was boring. Only 2 pts and they both should have been on a regular med/surg floor.
I'm planning on working through a critical care intern program first and then working in the ICU. That way I get some really good experience where I am still "a student" and then will go through orientation. I'm hoping it works out well for me.
Good luck to you. I think no matter what type of nursing a new grad goes into...it will be darn hard!!!

[paulRN216]

I too was an LPN in LTC and spinal cord injury rehab prior to getting my RN and moving on to the MICU. It was nerve wracking because it was a new type of environment, but the best part was that you don't have to worry about the simple things that new grads have issues with, and that is being a nurse. You know about meds, know how administer them, know how to transfer, ambulate, and care for patients. You already know how to juggle 54 things and eat lunch at the same time .

I am glad I went in to the ICU out of RN school. It was a great experience.

[SoundofMusic]

Well, those are the things we new grads don't know about, especially folks like me with no prior nursing experience at all. I'm still trying to get meds down, IV's, wound care, charting, etc. It's nuts.

It's a hard uphillclimb, believe me. I'm totally envious of the people who at least were techs, or nurses on med surg floors for 5 years before they came to ICU. Even they are freaked out by it a little ...imagine us new grads.

I'm taking it day by day.

[Mahage]

I have seriously thought about asking to go to IMCU where I was also offered a job, but my former boss who knows me and is also a manager tells me that three weeks is too soon to ask to transfer out. She thinks I should give it at least 6 weeks and see if I don't feel better about it, I respect her opinionn so I am going to tough it out a while longer and see how I feel.

Mahage