NEW GRAD ICU RN

Specialties MICU

Published

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wonderbee, BSN, RN

1 Article; 2,212 Posts

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

If you are excited and motivated to take care of very sick people and the environment is supportive, you've got lots of physical energy, go for it! I suggest you shadow at least one shift first in your unit of choice before committing to experience the various levels of ill patients. I started in ICU with several other new grads. I believe there were 7 of us who started at the same time. We are all about one year out now. Out of the 7, 5 remain. Of those 5, two have mixed or ambivalent feelings and consider the job to be simply too much at times. Of the remaining 3 who are absolute success stories, one is an absolute natural and picked up like a sponge and made herself part of the unit like she had always been there. She is all of 21 yoa. The other two are coming along well. We all had 6 weeks of clinical orientation and 4 weeks of classroom. BTW, I am one of the two who has left the ICU. It was my choice. The other one was fired for working while impaired.

1017RN

5 Posts

Pls help, I just passed the NCLEX and need to apply for new grad program, but most of the hospitals will start the program on january next year. help!

Riversurfer

50 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

I'm a 29

Riversurfer

50 Posts

Specializes in ICU.
We are (just in the past year) hiring new grads into our CV-ICU at my hospital. I'm not sure how many days of classroom study they have before they are on the floor, but they have a 6 to 8 week preceptorship with an experienced RN that they are partnered with. Then they start having their own assignments and are assigned a "buddy" as a resource person for their first few weeks off orientation. New orientees to our unit (new grads or otherwise) have their own big thick workbooks that help the preceptor and the orientee keep track of what experiences they have and what is still needed. Once orientation is over, the orientee is expected to work as Level I for about a year or so, then is orientated to Level II nursing, which includes recovery of open hearts, IABP's, etc. Level III includes charge nurse, CRRT, heart transplants, etc. and doesn't happen for another year or so after that. We have found that attitude and eagerness to learn makes all the difference in the world among the orientees, especially the new grads. I am amazed at how fast some of the new grads can pick up both information and techniques-- and we have also found that there are new grads who couldn't make it because of attitude. But that happens with experienced RNs also. Good luck! And remember; the only "dumb" question is one that wasn't asked.

I'm graduating in one year with my BSN and want to get into the CVICU. What hospital are you working at?

jmuduke2010

1 Post

Does anyone know anything about an ICU new grad internship at the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. I am really considering applying and hopefully working there after I graduate next May ('10). My boyfriend goes to school and lives in the area and I am moving there with him and will be there for at least 2 years until he graduates. I just want to be able to have an preceptor experience before I am thrown onto the floor alone!!!:nurse:

c_beshore_rn

73 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC, M/S, Supervisor, MRDD,.

I'm not a new grad. I've been an LPN for 12 years and an RN for 3 years. I have worked psych most of those years and recently transfered to m/s. I want to work ICU more than ANYTHING!! I study my rear off to learn the ins and outs of ICU nursing and LOVE LOVE LOVE cardiac. I work in a small hospital that allows me to supervise the entire hospital as "house supervisor" but only allows me to work PRN in ICU as the needs arise. I put in for a transfer to an open ICU position and was denied because they needed an "experienced" ICU nurse??? How the heck do we get any "experience" if no one allows us to gain it??? I don't know how to get in the door or if it is possible. I live in Missouri between KC and Joplin. If any "experienced" ICU people have any ideas or hospitals that hire not-so-new-grad RN's let me know!! I've got a fire for this thing and want it bad enough I'd drive the miles to get it. THANKS A BUNCH

swirlything

195 Posts

I'm sorry that this has been your experience. I am still on the "student" side of the wall until May, and am beginning to send out applications without a ton of knowledge of how the different area hospitals stack up. I've been looking on this site and trying to search for blogs, but it's a matter of "who's gonna go public and expose their place of employment?!", the obvious answer being, "No one!"

Can anyone offer advice on _how_ a soon-to-be-grad goes about choosing a "GOOD program"?

I would say to ask nurses what they think of, or have heard of, working at other hospitals. When doing my clinicals, I talked with the nurses about their perceptions of working there and what their opinions of the other hospitals were as well. Even if you don't find a nurse who's worked at other hospitals, they will know people who have... and people talk! Ask about their orientation experiences and whether they felt it was adequate, how long it was, etc.

Where I live, there are 2 main hospital systems, and the cultures within the two organizations are very different. Talking to the nurses about their perceptions of both hospital systems helped me immensely in determining which would be a better fit for me.

KimICURN

31 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac, ICU, ER.
I am thrilled to hear these wonderful welcomes to new grads in the ICU. I recently graduated from a BSN program and am now working in an ICU. I absolutely LOVE it! I have heard so many say you need a year of med-surg for organizational skills .

I received straight A's in school, managed self-employment, raised 2 kids, nursed my dying Father, took several advanced classes such as ACLS, hemo monitoring, etc. DON'T say I need organizational skills!:(

Now I am not saying every new grad should be in an ICU, but I think if given a good orientation and support, many can thrive! With the nursing shortage, it is imperative we embrace alternative ways to attract new nurses into this wonderful profession!

Smiles,

Lisa RN

;)

Thank you for saying that about organizational skills! I to have raised 3 children, nursed a dying parent, served on several boards all while going to school. I don't need organizational skills I need experience!

Paula Gayle

4 Posts

This is wonderful to hear that the more experienced nursses are warming up to the current trend of new grads in the ICU. I am fortunate to have witnessed great new graduates transitioning to care on my unit. I was there to help them through the rough moments and I must say they were many but am proud to say that they are all doing well.

Good luck in your endeavor.

isabelrt

1 Post

I'm currently a student, and I'm actually interested in working ICU and hoping to get a job as an ICU nurse. Throughout my clinical rotations, it's been beneficial to see different techniques nurses have, and being a student I have pretty much close to nothing. So, I think it might actually be easier for me to get oriented into the unit since I would be willing to learn from ICU nurses. I wouldn't have to worry about changing old habits, or have any conflicts with how things are done in ICU vs other units.

persephone714

30 Posts

I graduated dec 09, and started working in a busy MICU at a teaching hospital. We have many new grads, or young nurses. Here's the problem. Most of the people nurses I work with came to the unit right out of school, no other hospital experience, and they are very "protocol" driven.. It is very difficult when a bunch of 20yr old one-uppers start "helping" you with your pt, for example, inserting foleys, starting gtts, simply because of their diagnosis and the usual ordered protocols, without first assessing the individual pt. Every time I have gotten an admit I have other nurses rushing to the room and messing with my pt without letting me even assess the pt, and all those foleys and gtts are usually d/c'd 30mins later....I am a new RN, but imo, assertiveness and common sense are what you need. The skills and procedures will come as you go...

JAM100

8 Posts

Hi Persephone714 , Im very curious to know what hospitals are hiring new grads into the ICU, If you dont mind giving me the name of the hospital or at least the City, State.

THanks an advance!

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