ICU envy?

good point, geekgolightly--in the ICU, you are thinking critically at all times, even when cleaning poo!

My 2 cents, OP--stepdown/intermediate units can be great learning places for new grads. Those patients can really help develop your critical thinking skills because they can go "either way"--they can do fine, or they can tank. AND they don't have advanced airways, invasive and/or continuous monitoring, etc. What DO they have? Hopefully, they have a nurse with good assessment skills and sharp critical thinking who can spot something bad about to go down and then act to prevent it--in other words, YOU.

When I was on the floor, I felt inadequate because I wanted to work ICU. Actually, I hated the floor so much I was started working on a computer science degree...

But after 8 years in critical care, I'm kind of over it. This is more related to me ready to move on to advanced practice.

Grass is always greener...just define your goals and create a plan to work towards it (which it sounds like you have).

Good luck!

Obviously, Critical Care is complicated, but when I float out to MedSurg, Oncology, or any other floor for that matter, I find that I rely a lot on all the monitoring we have in the ICU. It's not that you don't watch the patient too, but when you're on the floor, you have a lot less control and you can't just do an EKG if it's not ordered (of course I've NEVER done one without an order), draw labs, etc. I feel like doctors listen to me more when I call from the ICU vs. when I call from the floor and it's infuriating.

There are good things and not so good things about both, but that's why I float to other units when I can. That way when our census in ICU is low, I can work anyway and be comfortable on other units (plus, I get to see my old homies!). Don't despair....there's positives no matter how you look at it!

xoxo

It sounds as if you are working on a PCU. That is a great place to start and it will allow you to transition to the ICU once you are able to get a position in ICU. The critical care classes will also be helpful BUT you will not be able to become certified until you actually work in the ICU for the required hours (1000 + at least). And you will actually needs hands on experience to pass the CCRN exam. I didn't take the exam until I had been in the ICU for 5 years and I still found it to be difficult.