How do all the experienced ICU nurses feel about....

We don't have techs or CNAs on my unit. So in addition to the Q1 FSBG, vitals and I/Os that I do on both my pts, I also have to clean them and change their sheets every day-sometimes multiple times a day! Being in charge I also help everyone else do this as well.

Lol.
When did coming to the ICU become less work? So now we can't push IV meds correctly unless we slaved in MedSurg and now we don't know how to give a bath or find it beneath us?

Sorry, I dont' find pt care beneath me. I take care of my whole pt.

Doris, we graduated at the same time, except all of my time has been in the ICU. Do you feel that you learned how to give a bath in MedSurg?

Because when I worked in MedSurg as a PCT we kinda did all the baths, linen changes, vital signs, I/Os, ambulations, finger sticks, foleys, dressing changes (I could go on forever)....

Here in the ICU is where I still have to do them, myself. If anything, I would recommend the new nurses coming to the ICU have experience as a tech/CNA in MedSurg rather than nursing.

That's where you do/learn all the basics of nursing, IMO.

Umm, with all your "experience" have you ever applied for a Masters to Teach? Try it and see.

The post wasn't about you. I'm now on 3 years nursing, now considered an expert. But, by example, I know an OR nurse going for a Masters in teaching, and she is scrambling to find some med surg experience because she was advised she needs it. One of our own ICU nurses is going for a nurse pract, and she had to take a job in the neuro unit because she needed it for her requirements.
And from past experience, I don't know how many 4.0 students we had that sucked on the floor. So, you many sing your own praises, I'm wondering if your coworkers do............

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.

I do agree that a n ICU nurse has to be very well rounded in all aspects of patient care, as well as posses great critical thinking skills and know how to think outside of the box. In the unit, a patient is usually more complicated than onthe floor..they may have multiple problems that may or may not relate, and may or may not even be diagnosed yet. The nurse is the one with the patient all day, sees what is going on, and steps inwhen needed. I say this from the standpoint of a new nurse, and the only ICU experience i have really had is from my preceptorship, which was only 90 hours (or 8 days)..i started monday with orientation and will be in MICU starting next week, as a new grad. My director knows i have no real background in ICU, but yet i was hired on the spot, over several experienced ICU nurses, because i was told i had the right attitude, and the dediction to get in there and learn. I dont now how much that will matter once i get in there, but I am determined to make them proud, and leave them no room to doubt their decision to hire me. However, i have to admit i am scared to death, because next week, my first week on the unit....Joint Commission will be there!! I expected them to ask me to not work that week ( i have seen other places do this), because of that, but no..they want me there front and center, and a honest as i can be about my knowledge or lack thereof...sugestions on that??