Essentials of Critical Care Orientation

[remotefuse]

Hey everyone. I currently work on a med/surg floor, but my ultimate goal would be getting into the ICU. I have read around that a lot of ICU floors will add this program into orientation for new hires. I am interested in taking the CEs for now, and I'm wondering if that would help me get into the unit. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Don't subject yourself to this if you don't have to.

I learned nothingfrom but then again I'd been a nurse for seven years when I did ECCO. (And I don't feel as if it prepared me AT ALL for ICU patients!)

It is quite tedious, to say the least. I don't think already taking it will give you a leg up on any other applicant. Besides, once you're hired in the ICU, you'll most likely have time set aside during your orientation to do ECCO, and it will be free to you.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Most of the classes they have are for nurses training in the department currently. I would have never made sense of all the cardiac stuff had I not be caring for and involved in the post open hearts hands on as well. I wouldn't do it because you won't get much if anything from it.

what I would take is ekg course (12 lead and basic arrhythmia), ACLS, study icufaqs.org Those are far more practical in my opinion. :)