[CandyGyrl]

Hey everyone I'm interested in working ICU when I complete my Nursing Program so lets just say I like to plan ahead. Think about when you started.

Is there anything that you wish you could've done to better prepare yourself for this unit?
Anything you wished someone would've told you?
Resources you may have used to give you a better grasp in being an ICU nurse or caring for and ICU patient.

I am very curious to know if there is there anything I can do as a student {starting Nursing School May 5th} to get an edge in being ready to handle the demands and rigor of ICU nursing {other than completing nursing school and passing my state boards of course} .

Thanks in advance

[mrsportsmedicine]

As motivated as you are.. My best suggestion would be to channel all that energy into nursing school and boards first, simply because you have to crawl before you can walk.
Get the basics down first before you want to grasp the ICU world. There's nothing more disheartening than an ICU nurse who forgets their basic nursing skills. Learn to care care of your patients before before wowed by all the wonderful and exciting things we do in the ICU world!
I love your enthusiasm and energy. I do hope it stays with you throughout your journey as a nurse.
Best of luck!!!

[Conrad283]

Practice your organization and time management skills.

[Gemstar]

Candygyrl,

I'm in my first year of three at The Christ Nursing College - Cincinnati, OH.
My advice to you: apply for a PCA position in ICU.
You'll get to know the staff -- more importantly, they will get to know YOU.

Many of my fellow nursing students are working part-time at the hospital.
Me, personally, I'm giving 100% attention to nursing school.
So, I guess it is just preference.

Gemstar

[OkieICU_RN]

I agree with the previous post about being a CNA or Tech in the ICU while in nursing school if you can. It will give you a good idea of what's going on and helping the nurses out with critically ill and injured patients. This will also give you a leg up when you have nursing labs and competencies.

Another thing you could do (even if you are working as a CNA or Tech) is do an externship during the summer after your first year of nursing school in the ICU. I don't know if there are programs like this where you live. It's a great opportunity because you actually work along side an RN and under his/her direction, provide the nursing care for that patient(s).

Other than that, just do like you already said.....do well in school and concentrate on boards. There's so much information just in nursing school that it will be hard to master ICU information until you know the basic stuff.

Try and make some connections while doing your clinical rotations. Your instructors and the nurses you work with in clinicals will be your references when you apply for a position when you are done.

[dorie43rn]

I agree also with the job as a PCA, even casual, if possible. I did that, and got the fear of ventilators and all of the other mechanics of the ICU out of the way. I also agree with practicing good basic skills. We have a male nurse in our ICU who brags to everyone how he came from this other hospital and was this great cardiac nurse with four years experience. Then his paitient went down the tubes with sats in the 70's, and when the nurse helping him told him to start bagging the patient, he didn't know how!! What did he do? Changed his gloves numerous times! This nurse has no basic skills, and should be fired, but no, he still is working./

Doris

[CandyGyrl]

So far... this information is great. I've been reading threads where some of the more experienced ICU nurses feel that new grads maybe shouldn't go straight onto an ICU unit without some time in Med Surge or an opportunity to practice basic patient care. I am actually contracted to work for the hospital which is providing my nursing education and I will be sure to be on the lookout for PCA positions inter/externships.

I know how the more experienced nurses feel about new grads and I don't want to back off from being an ICU nurse-- I just want to be as competent as I can even more so because I haven't had any previous hospital experience and I don't want to be at a double disadvantage.

[RNFELICITY]

I think it isn't so much that ICU nurses don't like new grads in the ICU as it is that there is this feeling of "paying your dues".

I think it is an individual case by case thing because not every new grad has the ability to critical think and may need that med-surg start.

When I first became a nurse, it was mandatory for ICU nurses to have 2 years med-surg before they ever looked at you. Now, nursing schools are putting hteir students in the ICU for rotations and they have role transition and co-op jobs to immerse the new nurse into the environment which I think is really helpful.

I think the worst thing I have seen thus far is the new nurse fresh out of school that think they know absolutely everything. This is dangerous at ever level of nursing,IMO.

Good luck on whatever you choose. Being a nurse in any realm is the best job on the face of the earth.