[eph432girl]

Hello,
I am interested in asking you guys how many of you work at hospitals where they have interships for new nurses who just completed BSNs ? What size is your hospital, trauma level ? How do you feel about GNs working in ICU? What are the benefits (you get to train them the 'right way' before bad habits are learned, etc). If this is a sore subject for you, then please go off and tell me why you think it is a bad idea.
Have you guys worked as preceptors for the new nurses and what does that involve? If you do not want to be a preceptor, can you say no? Are you compensated ($$$$) for this additional responsibility?
Finally, if anyone is in the DFW area, would you let me know what hospitals offer interships to new nurses. I am very interested in ICU (and eventually CRNA school). I have looked into JPS and Harris-downtown - they offer internships... I was just wondering how difficult it is for new nurses to get into critical care if the hospital does not offer an intership.

Thanks for any and all replys.....Christine

[suzanne4]

You definitely only want to consider a hospital that has a full program for the
new graduate. The preparation you received in school, was only a small stone compared to the boulders that you will feel that you are up against.
You also want to pick a place that will give you the same preceptor throughout your training. You will feel more together that way...........

Good luck I have never had a problem with a new nurse starting in any type of specialty unit. Just remember to keep your eyes and ears open and ask questions..

[mattsmom81]

The critical care internship program I have been involved with was at Plaza. They have a very good CNS who run the internship and follows the trainees through their classroom work and later their unit preceptorships. They rotate through the 4 critical care units and at the end they pick which unit they would like to work.

In my experience it is a good program and the nurses who went through it enjoyed it and did well. A friend of mine just transfered to CVICU at Plaza and is enjoying it, learning a lot.

I have worked this area for over 20 yrs and I would not recommend trying to move into ICU as a new grad without a strong dedicated internship program such as the large hospitals offer here. Baylor and Harris has great programs too...and I've heard good things about them, i just don't know personally.

There were no internships when I learned ICU (back in the stone age) and did learn OJT...but I wouldn't recommend it today. The internships are a much better way to learn, and you have a dedicated program in place to assist you. Good luck!

[IamRN]

Try to get into the ICU internship at Parkland. They have many ICU's so you will have to select one. I went through the SICU and have never regreted it. Having said that, there are many other hospitals in the area that offer good internships.

Good luck!