[jfpruitt]

I'm looking at ICU nursing when I graduate. I have done a few hours shadowing in an ICU, but had a few questions for those nurses, can you tell me about your day? I know it can vary, but do you spend most of your day suctioning, or monitoring, etc? What is the hardest part of the job? What shift do you recommend? What type of person is a good ICU nurse? When I shadowed, I noticed that the majority of the RNs were seated and watched monitors half the night? Just wanted to get everyone's input. You can email me privately if you want at jenniferpruitt@hotmail.com. THANKS!!

[sockov]

hello
the ones sitting watching the monitors are the ones that don't turn, or suction, or care about their patients!
a good ICU nurse is always moving, and thinking ahead before the problem happens. I work in ICU/CCU currently in a SICU unit where we specialize in liver transplantation. Your main duties in a critical care enviroment is so much to say, but the main goal is to keep the patient hemodynamically stable until they heal to normal again. (which can take months). That could mean giving fluid boluses, titrating drips, monitoring labs and such.
think ahead of what could happen and avoid it happening. If there is a sudden drop in B/P... why? assess and fix. Keep thinking on the potential risk of a lowered B/P.... fried kidneys, low perfusion to distant organs and the gut.... etc etc.
Basically in a nutshell that is how ICU nusing is. Don't be the nurse that sits and wants easy nights, and does bare minimum, they slowly get stupid. Be a "do-er" and make a difference!
good luck.

[nowplayingEDRN]

Sockov,

I could not put it better my self........AMEN! As a ICU/CCU nurse I find that if I do not stay what seems to be 3 steps ahead, it is a real mess.....and that was experience gained from being tossed into the fire to learn. It is a constant analytical process.....and like you said.....assess the patient.....why the problem???.......fix the problem.....assess again. jfpruitt....what ever you decide to do, I wish you the best.

Christie

[wv_nurse 2003]

Just remember that it is very difficult (not impossible--but extremely difficult) to go into ICU right out of school. Consider a year of experience on a busy med-surg floor to fine tune your assessment skills, time management, and priority setting.
Best of luck to you!

[Furball]

Better yet, a year on a tele floor (you'll learn rhythms, organization, assessing and some drips) is ideal if you aren't sure about going right into ICU.

[gwenith]

Sockov - you are 100% correct. ICU nursing is not about "watching monitors" neither is it about "swann-ganz" catheters and Nitric Oxide or Balloon pumps. It is mostly about basic nursing care with technological support.

You are constantly assessing your patients. Keeping one step ahead even of those patients who are seemingly "stable" as they can have spetic showers, sputum plugs even MI's.

Furball and wv_nurse 2003 are right as well DO NOT GO STRAIGHT FROM SCHOOL TO ICU!!!

Worked in a unit where they would take nurses straight from school. These staff were never pooled outside the unit so if it was not done in the unit they didn't know about it and couldn't cope with it. Scarey part was the arrogance of ignorance where "you don't have to do that cause I never have and nothing has ever gone wrong!" These nurses never learnt how to truly interact with their patients either.

[healingtouchRN]

Been there & done that, 14 years worth, It can be done. I precepted & graduated straight to CCU, spent 7 years there & another almost 7 in the ER before coming back to CCU as charge (again). It takes alot of training, stay up on your skills, I have almost 90 hours of training this year alone (2003) not to mention the amount of classes I have taught & I am also in private practice, too, as a holistic nurse. If you want it, go for it, blood, sweat, swearing & tears!

[TEXAS_BSN_RN]

I graduated in May. Went straight to ICU. Had my job the February before I graduated. I used to do warehouse work and this job is way harder than that. Its going to make me an alcoholic.

[TEXAS_BSN_RN]

I graduated in may and now I work in ICU. its the hardest job I've ever had in life. I would recommend anyone that is thinking about doing this path to think about it strongly because straight out of nursing school you have no organization skills, are weak to fair on assessment skills, and time management skills are usually weak. Even a yr on another floor, I think would cut my stress in half.

[TEXAS_BSN_RN]

I graduated in may and now I work in ICU. its the hardest job I've ever had in life. I would recommend anyone that is thinking about doing this path to think about it strongly because straight out of nursing school you have no organization skills, are weak to fair on assessment skills, and time management skills are usually weak. Even a yr on another floor, I think would cut my stress in half. My instructors recommended me to go into ICU. One of the few that they did and its kicking my @$$.