[elemschoolnurse]

Can a new person make it in critical care? This is something I really want to do! Advice please!

[ready4crna?]

Elem-
If you are talking about a new-grad rn going into critical care, then absolutely! I am going to assume you are referring to yourself and that you have an offer on the table. If they are willing to precept and train you to perform as a critical care nurse, then I would take it. If they want to throw you into the fire without protection, then I would decline the offer.

[Christie RN2006]

Originally Posted by elemschoolnurse

Can a new person make it in critical care? This is something I really want to do! Advice please!

I am a new grad RN that started in SICU I will admit that it is hard!! At the hospital I work at, all new grads in the ICU have to complete critical care classes, ACLS, and a cardiac arrhythmia course within a year of hire. We have to pass the cardiac arrhythmia test before we are allowed to care for patients on our own. The perceptorship in the SICU is usually at least 3 months.

Be sure to ask them what kind of training they offer to new grads and what the preceptorship is like. If they don't offer much, or if the preceptorship is too short, then run the other direction!

[elemschoolnurse]

Well I have another offer at a nerby hospital with a 10 minute commute and higher pay in the step-down unit with a verbal agreement that as soon as an opening was available they would put me in the ICU there. I worked there before as an LPN years ago and I don't know if much has changed.

The job in the ICU is lower pay and a 50 minute commute. There is however, a higher retention rate for employees there. Something makes me think I might be happier there. Money is not always everything. Still in a DILEMMA!!!!!!!!

[GregRN]

Originally Posted by elemschoolnurse

with a verbal agreement that as soon as an opening was available they would put me in the ICU there.

That should be a clue right there. Never, ever, ever go with an agreement that isn't in writing. I cannot stress this enough: either get it in writing or consider it lip service.

Would you be happy in the step down unit? Why critical care? Do you have aspirations to go on to CRNA school? If so, spending time in a step down unit puts you no closer to that goal. What if you spent a year doing critical care and then transferred to the hospital closer to home? Would that be apealing? Some things to think about...

[elemschoolnurse]

I understand GregRN what you are saying, but after a stressfull weekend of thinking things through, I will take the step-down unit. The ICU job I was offered does not deal with Neuro or Cardiac, those are shipped off to bigger hospitals. I believe I will get to move to the ICU because the hospital is so busy, half the time there is no beds available in the ICU, so they will be expanding. Its better than Med/Surg in my opinion. I already know many doctors and other staff there so it won't be overwhelming, besides the pay would be about 500 more a month and closer to home.

[LadyNASDAQ]

I've worked 25 out of the last 28 years in Critical Care. Year 1 was med surg. Years 2 and 3 were Tele and floating in ICU. You will lose out on a lot of skill mix and geez, if they floated you out of ICU you would not be able to handle it. The reason would be that being overwhelmed with many patients will floor you. It isn't possible to be able to work safely in a staff job at all without the foundation necessary to work safely everywhere and don't expect that you will always be working your chosen floor. Even Charge Nurses can float to desk or floors of other Units. I did many times.

Learn the right way and be safe.