How long in ICU before you felt comfortable?

My friend, you are not supposed to feel comfortable as a critical care nurse. There should always be a level of discomfort, always a slight lingering fear that something could go wrong, and always something that you don't know. Yes, you won't feel as uneasy as you do now forever, but comfort... I worry about the nurses that get "comfortable". Those are the ones who think they know it all, and don't. Who miss things at the patient's expense, and who fail to consult with their peers when they should. My true hope for you is that you never feel "comfortable", that you're always on your toes and ready for the "other shoe to drop". Be challenged, be passionate, be on your toes, and don't lose the edge that got you into the ICU to begin with.

That's pretty true. My preceptor told me that people think they can go to ICU and have their two patients and sit around and its not that way at all. You really do have to be on your toes because a patient can crash at any moment.

Hi,

To the original poster, I hear ya. I came from 2.5 years in the neonatal ICU to an adult surgical cardiac ICU and it has been a BIG change, literally! I started a training program and have been off orientation and on my own for approx. 2 weeks...I go to work and feel overwhelmed sometimes--so like others have said usually a year before you feel "comfortable" that is how long I anticipate it will take me in an adult ICU. Good luck! Remember always ask questions if you are unsure of something!!!

I would say I didn’t fell comfortable until about 1 year in the ICU.

However, I had about 5 yrs of Med Surg experience on my belt when I decided to take the plunge. I’ll be honest, with 8yrs of nursing experience & 3yrs in ICU anything could still surprise me & I’m learning everyday.

What’s important is your patient’s safety & health. Anything can happen in the ICU & from my experience I have yet worked in an ICU that other staff members didn’t help you out when your pt’s crashing. Even when I was deployed. Hell my head nurse has come out to help with a codes or take pt’s when staff is low. There’s no time to be peddy when there’s critical pt’s around.

Life is precious especially when you have 18-30yrs coding on you.

Keep asking questions, Keep reading, and Keep mastering those skills. Just be the best nurse you can be for that patient whose life is in your hands.

I must say, this thread has done me a world of good. Thank you to all who have posted....

I've been in the ICU at the hospital I work at for 10 months.....starting the 11th!!! I've had doubts about my skill level for the last 2 days........ Long story short, I had a patient start crashing on me Saturday morning and....well, froze. I was looking at the monitor when his heart rate went up in the 180's, blood pressure cycled again and dropped from a systolic of 136 to 86.....and my brain went dead. It must have only been for a few seconds but those seconds felt so long. I just couldn't think.....panic set in. If not for some of the other nurses around I'm not sure how well things would have went. I called the Dr. .........patient went to surgery.

I just find myself wondering......am I a danger to my patients? Will I ever truly "get it". It's comforting to hear that everyone else either feels or has felt the same way. I'm still not sure what I will end up doing. Transfer to med surg.....or stay in the ICU that I love so much. I'm not sure I could live with myself if I let someone die. I've lost 1 patient so far.....some people can't be saved no matter how hard you try but it wasn't because I froze. The gentleman pulled through surgery OK, and his family thanked me over and over again for "being there"......I just don't feel like I was.....and it has really made me think. I'm not sure I can put anyone else at risk for the sake of my training.

Advice?

Truly, you won't get the "joining the dots automatically" for around a year, you'll be more task oriented.. and that's the way it is for everyone.

Seek out your preceptor, or your unit educator and ask for homework, or more resources. They would much rather help develop you, especially if you enjoy it, than to let you fail.

The fact that you recognize your limitations means you're probably doing just fine.

I like that quote! I try not to forget my limits, and when I do get a little cocky something always humbles me.

It took a couple of years to feel "comfortable", meaning I felt like I could handle most of the things pts would try to surprise me with.

I felt confident with the basics in about 6 months and after a little over a year I am feeling like I can handle most stuff. I try and stay humble and learn as much as I can. I still asks lots of questions and there are lots of good staffer who keep their eyes on me! I know its a steep learning curve, I sure wouldn't want to repeat my last year over again!