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| No. 10 | 
Sep 29, 2009, 06:27 PM
Updated
Sep 29, 2009 at 06:41 PM by TurnLeftSide
 Re: ICU envy?
Eh, when I worked on step-down, it was considered critical care. A lot of places do consider stepdowns critical care areas. Even the AACN consider step-downs or progressive care units as "critical care". Why do you think they offer a PCCN certification? We took critical care classes during orientation, patients were monitored at all times. We had vents, some vasoactive drips, heparin and insulin gtts...that's critical care. We were also all ACLS certified. We got plenty of patients who needed to be in in ICU but ended up in our unit. Most step-downs are considered critical care. http://www.aacn.org/WD/Certification...=Certification
Anyways back to the topic at hand.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 11 |
Sep 29, 2009, 08:06 PM
Re: ICU envy?
Thanks everyone for your input. I know that I am wrong to even waste energy on this issue, its petty and insignificant. Its just I thought others may empathize with what I'm going through. I have always been interested in the ICU because of the level of care you provide to and for a patient. I like to pine over charts understand the disease process, complications, medications, IV's, Drains, Chest tubes, aortic balloons... all of that fun stuff. on a Med/Surg unit its way more task oriented, and pushing meds. With Critical Care the patient is complex and requires constant observation and intuition to know when the patients condition is worsening. All of these things intrigue me about the ICU. Always has. I convinced my friends as to why their jobs will be so worthwhile.
As far as my Neuro floor, its a GPU alot of post op patients, a few r/o CVA's or MS changes. Our manager wants everyone to take critical care classes and be ACLS certified especially the newbies. We have patients on telemetry and we need to have a basic understanding of heart rhythms and how to care for our patients when they start to go bad. I love my unit, my co-workers my managers, its an extremely supportive and flexible environment which is very unusual for newbies to come into. I admit I can be a bit spoiled about everything in my life. But this was just my feeling and I was venting a bit. I give 110% because your name is worth more than precious stones and gold and I want people to know that when you work with me I've got your back, I'll give my all and patients are in good hands.
| | No. 13 |
Sep 29, 2009, 08:53 PM
Re: ICU envy? Originally Posted by TurnLeftSide  Eh, when I worked on step-down, it was considered critical care. A lot of places do consider stepdowns critical care areas. Even the AACN consider step-downs or progressive care units as "critical care". Why do you think they offer a PCCN certification? .
LOL---so they can make more money selling education materials, certification exams, and re-certs?
Oh j/k but I honestly don't think much of the AACN organization nor its present criteria for awarding certification.
:::Shrug:::
But I have my CCRN and I'll keep it up because it's what some folks think is important and yes, it looks good on a resume. I am not delusional at all about its real value, however.
If you check out the AACN site it states that the PCCN certification is for nurses who care for "acutely ill" patients while its CCRN certification is for nurses who care for "critically ill" patients. They stretch the PCCN certificatiion to cover many areas but specifically not critical care so to point to the AACN certificatiion for PCCN as being "proof" that PCU's/stepdown units are critical care units is stretching things a bit:
>>PCCNŽ specialty certification was introduced in 2004 for nurses providing care to acutely ill adult patients regardless of the geographic location of their nursing care. Nurses interested in this certification may work in such areas as: intermediate care, direct observation, step down, telemetry, transitional care, or emergency departments.<<
Wow. Quite a catchall. Good for the AACN bottom line to include the masses, I guess. 
Nonetheless, PCU/stepdown units can be much more intense than med/surg units and working in them is good experience and if one wants to consider them critical care feel free.
There will be many CC nurses who will not agree, however.
| | No. 14 |
Sep 29, 2009, 10:24 PM
Re: ICU envy?
Wow, Candy - you don't have a very high option of Med/Surg. With the exception of aortic balloon we manage all those aspects on my ward, and use a combination of observation, experience and knowledge to monitor patients for changes in their condition. In some ways, with less invasive monitoring, change can be more subtle, and can also be trickier as one's attention is split between patients.
I'm not saying what I do and what ICU nurses do is the same, or that one is harder or easier - they're different, with different skill sets and demands, but there is a degree of overlap. Getting a grounding in non-intensive patient care can enhance your ICU practice and add a dimension to your care.
| | No. 15 |
Sep 29, 2009, 11:12 PM
Re: ICU envy? Originally Posted by CandyGyrl But this was just my feeling and I was venting a bit. I give 110% because your name is worth more than precious stones and gold and I want people to know that when you work with me I've got your back, I'll give my all and patients are in good hands.
It's okay. We all have our moments but one of the difficult aspects of these forums is that we only see a snippet of the poster at a particular moment via a few written words and can't see facial expressions or hear sincerity in a voice.
It sounds like you're in a pretty supportive environment and you'll progress as time goes by. Do the very best you can, where you are now, and your reputation will get you where you eventually want to be.
Good luck!  | | No. 16 |
Sep 30, 2009, 02:41 PM
Re: ICU envy?
1. ICU can be much much much more task oriented than you may realize--even though you would really like to glance at that chart, some days it just isn't possible cause ya gotta wipe poo AGAIN--especially in that first year as you get the "less sick" pts
2. You are right now gaining that "intuition" to know when your pt's condition is worsening.
Bedside nursing is grubby, unglamorous work, pretty much in any setting or at any level. Welcome! Learn all you can and keep searching for your niche.
Best,
Rebecca
| | No. 17 |
Sep 30, 2009, 04:38 PM
Re: ICU envy? Originally Posted by talaxandra Wow, Candy - you don't have a very high option of Med/Surg. With the exception of aortic balloon we manage all those aspects on my ward, and use a combination of observation, experience and knowledge to monitor patients for changes in their condition. In some ways, with less invasive monitoring, change can be more subtle, and can also be trickier as one's attention is split between patients.
I'm not saying what I do and what ICU nurses do is the same, or that one is harder or easier - they're different, with different skill sets and demands, but there is a degree of overlap. Getting a grounding in non-intensive patient care can enhance your ICU practice and add a dimension to your care.
It's true. There are different skill sets. And I also agree that working in non-ICU settings enhances your ability to care for critically ill patients.
I also understand why someone would not want to work the floor if they have their heart set on ICU. They are completely different environments. I say that having worked numerous different floors and tele and progressive care before entering ICU.
I also agree that tele and progressive care are NOT critical care, even if they may be classified that way by various hospitals. Huge difference there.
| | No. 18 |
Sep 30, 2009, 04:45 PM
Re: ICU envy? Originally Posted by porterwoman 1. ICU can be much much much more task oriented than you may realize--even though you would really like to glance at that chart, some days it just isn't possible cause ya gotta wipe poo AGAIN--especially in that first year as you get the "less sick" pts
2. You are right now gaining that "intuition" to know when your pt's condition is worsening.
Bedside nursing is grubby, unglamorous work, pretty much in any setting or at any level. Welcome! Learn all you can and keep searching for your niche.
Best,
Rebecca
I also agree with Rebecca here with one caveat; ICU affords one the ability to push your critical thinking skills to their limits on a near daily basis. You HAVE to think critically and intensely for your patients, even while cleaning up poo in order to ascertain if their heart is failing to pump adequately related to CHF or tamponade or MI (is it inferior, anterior, septal, lateral, posterior or a combination there of?) or dilated cardiomyopathy etc. etc.. And which medications you need to beg for, from physicians as most don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground in critical care. (non major metro teaching hospitals wherein units are not closed).
It's intense, it's heartbreaking and it's fun in ways the floors could never be.
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