[Misty1]

been out of the ICU for a few years and am going back. Have any of you guys seen this? and what do you think?

http://www.vonl.com/chips/critcd.htm

[ZASHAGALKA]

Ask the unit you're going to about resources, such as AACN's 'ecco' (essentials of critical care orientation) program.

MOST units have some sort of refresher/orientation info.

If they don't have such a course, ask them to send you to a week long program - and they are out there.

I haven't heard about the program you cite. But. I personally think that your unit bears some of the responsibility for helping you 'adapt' to their situation.

~faith,
Timothy.

[Corvette Guy]

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

Ask the unit you're going to about resources, such as AACN's 'ecco' (essentials of critical care orientation) program.

MOST units have some sort of refresher/orientation info.

If they don't have such a course, ask them to send you to a week long program - and they are out there.

I haven't heard about the program you cite. But. I personally think that your unit bears some of the responsibility for helping you 'adapt' to their situation.

~faith,
Timothy.

ECCO is an excellent online course, which I definitely enjoyed!

The AACN Essentials of Critical Care Orientation Private Learning Center.

This Learning Center provides you and your organization a first of its kind learning portal designed to help orient novice nurses to the field of critical care nursing. This program provides over 64 contact hours of continuing education credit of custom developed content broken down into each of the body's systems:

• Cardiovascular
• Pulmonary
• Neurologic
• Renal
• Gastrointestinal
• Endocrine
• Hematology
• Multisystem
  
  In addition to the custom created content, this Learning Center offers management features to help in tracking each user's progress through each module while the integrated assessment piece will automatically grade and report test scores.
  
  For More Information about this Program Click Here
  
  
  

[begalli]

This is an awesome learning tool and it's free and you can do it from home:

Pulmonary Artery Catheter Education Project (PACEP)

It's a collaboration by:

American Association of Critical Care Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
American College of Chest Physicians
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Thoracic Society
National Heart Lung Blood Insititute
Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists
Society of Critical Care Medicine

Really, just register and go to it. It can also be used for CEU's.

I think with ECCO, your hospital has to have purchased access for employees. The PACEP is very similar but doesn't require a purchase (except if you want ceu's).

[cateccrn]

Of course, they should give you at least 3 weeks of orientation. You will be amazed at how much you will remember.
I would also suggest a CCRN prep course. They cover the basics, and if you have been in ICU before, it may be enough to "remind" you of all the pathophys behind your skills.