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| Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 11 | 
Mar 06, 2009, 05:18 AM
 Re: How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about....
Ok, forget everything I said about Med surg vs ICU. Here is the best reason to work med surg, and this is going to make all the ICU nurses who went straight to ICU mad, but I don't care. I know in my hospital, ICU nurses have a certain reputation for being mean b's who think they run the hospital. Do you know the ones with that attitude? The ones who never worked med surg and saw how completely swamped and busy they can be. I'v seen many ICU nurse talk down to the floor nurses, Shame on you! I, having worked Med Surg have tremendous respect for those nurses, and if they tell me they can't take report right now, then I understand. I treat them as my equals, not someone below me. Don't email me saying it doesn't happen, I've worked in three hospitals, and it happens in everone. So, work where you want, there is positive sides to both, and good luck.
About the meds, shouldn't a grad nurse learn how to do a morphine push before he needs to do a adenosine push? Shouldn't they learn some basic skills before they come into a high stress unit that expects them to come off of orientation knowing what they need to know? Remember, these are grad nurses who as we all know, most of the learning comes on the job, not in school. I vote for all grad nurses doing a year in medsurg before moving on to any field.   | | No. 12 |
Mar 06, 2009, 05:38 AM
Re: How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about.... Originally Posted by dorie43rn  .... I vote for all grad nurses doing a year in medsurg before moving on to any field.
When I was a new grad, I did med surg for 3 mos, hated it and never went back.
I have been a nurse for eighteen years now, and a traveling/float charge RN for the past four.
Not everyone needs the traditional time in med surg to be a competent, successful nurse.  | | No. 14 |
Mar 06, 2009, 08:18 AM
Re: How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about.... Originally Posted by dorie43rn Ok, forget everything I said about Med surg vs ICU. Here is the best reason to work med surg, and this is going to make all the ICU nurses who went straight to ICU mad, but I don't care. I know in my hospital, ICU nurses have a certain reputation for being mean b's who think they run the hospital. Do you know the ones with that attitude? The ones who never worked med surg and saw how completely swamped and busy they can be. I'v seen many ICU nurse talk down to the floor nurses, Shame on you! I, having worked Med Surg have tremendous respect for those nurses, and if they tell me they can't take report right now, then I understand. I treat them as my equals, not someone below me. Don't email me saying it doesn't happen, I've worked in three hospitals, and it happens in everone. So, work where you want, there is positive sides to both, and good luck.
About the meds, shouldn't a grad nurse learn how to do a morphine push before he needs to do a adenosine push? Shouldn't they learn some basic skills before they come into a high stress unit that expects them to come off of orientation knowing what they need to know? Remember, these are grad nurses who as we all know, most of the learning comes on the job, not in school. I vote for all grad nurses doing a year in medsurg before moving on to any field.
Come on, give me a break. ICU nurses have that same reputation at every single hospital. And I'm not going to lie and say I've never thought along those lines at times. I never worked med-surg and I NEVER will. And why can't every nurse, no matter where you work, understand when another nurse says she can't take report because she's busy that means she's busy. IMHO, I find no positive side to working med-surg - walkie-talkies are not for me.
You learn about meds by looking them up and administering them. Working med-surg and learning how to push morphine is not going to make you a better ICU nurse or more able to push adenosine, or any other drug for that matter. And I guess, then, I'm limited to CRNA because I only have ICU experience. DANG!! I was so hoping to have more opportunities in nursing and thought more doors were open with my BSN, I guess I was wrong. 
Good luck in all you do, you'll go further because of your med-surg experience.  | | No. 15 |
Mar 06, 2009, 08:44 AM
Re: How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about.... Originally Posted by dorie43rn So, you many sing your own praises, I'm wondering if your coworkers do............
They do, thanks for asking!
| | No. 17 |
Mar 06, 2009, 09:00 AM
Re: How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about....
Wow...this thread obviously hit someones nerve...
As for the OP. I went directly into the ICU and honestly I feel I have done great...as evidenced by my reviews, what my director tells me and from my coworkers and doctors (since I feel I have to justify my abilites as not tooting my own horn) But we definately do have some new grads that cannot and do not cut it in the ICU. IT depends on the person, their past experience's and their down right drive to do it!!!
As far as being one of the big B***** in the hospital, well I try to be nice, but I will do what I have to to take care of my patients and if that comes accross as being a you know what....well then so be it.
| | No. 19 |
Mar 06, 2009, 03:23 PM
Re: How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about....
I think I am preaching to the choir about this one.
I feel a new grad starting in the ICU- It depends on the person and situation. I had a 6 month oreantation which around 4 months I felt comfortable. We also had classes and preceptors who were great. With everyone I went through oreantation with you can tell others get a lot easier assignments and us who get tougher ones.
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