New Grad., jumped into the ICU - AAAH!

TLC RN · Mar 10, 2006

Don't worry, I did the same thing today during my clinical on a CICU. When I graduate in May, I will be working on a CVICU...I think we have to make note of what we did, try not to do it again and don't beat ourself up too much...we gotta let it go :)

Good luck to you!

monkeyman1000 · Mar 10, 2006

I've been working in ICU for just over 2 years and I'm just now starting to feel somewhat comfortable, although I still ask a million questions a day. I was told to give it about 2-3 years before you start to "get it". Hope that doesn't sound harsh but try to stick it out. Hopefully you will be as lucky as I have been by being able to work with a great staff that doesn't mind helping you learn. I've done plenty of stupid things too. I don't know what you're faith background is but this job has made me rely on God more than anything I have ever done. I trust Him to get me through the day and to keep me and my patients safe. Hope this helps.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

... begining to feel like a big dummy head! I am, or was for that matter a 3.7 and above student, and as this is my second career, I am very comitted to this.
... I come home and think about all the bonehead things Ive done, like give my intubated pt. PO meds through his OG tube, and then HOOKING him back up to LIS!...

We're very similar... 3.7 GPA, second career, and almost did the same thing with potassium yesterday in clinical.

Interviewing next Friday for a spot in the MICU. Graduating in June.

So I guess I'm sorta following in your steps.

Good luck!

pinkjewel · Mar 11, 2006

im a nursing student right now in the lpn program i started clinicals just a few weeks ago, im scared to death of doing something wrong and hurting a patient, will this fear ever go away?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

You sound like you're right where you're supposed to be. We all feel, not just ICU nurses, as you desribe when we're first starting out. "They" say it takes a full year to feel comfortable in the new nurse role. Good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

im a nursing student right now in the lpn program i started clinicals just a few weeks ago, im scared to death of doing something wrong and hurting a patient, will this fear ever go away?

I hope not. It's when you let your guard down that errors occur.

A healthy fear of making an error that could harm a person is a good thing, as long as it's not cripping.

You'll find some confidence as a student, and then as was described above as a new grad the fear and doubts return for a while longer. This is very normal, and again shouldn't be crippling.

Stay on your guard constantly to prevent errors. Being a nurse is an awesome responsibility. Good luck!

TennRN2004 · Mar 11, 2006

What you're feeling is completely normal. If you weren't worried about making mistakes, and learning from them, that would be a problem. New nurses who are over confident can get in big trouble real quick in the ICU setting. I think part of the hard thing about being a new grad in the ICU is that you are learning the basics of nursing along with the basics of ICU nursing skills. The simple things seasoned ICU nurses take for granted come harder when you are new. It takes a while, but keep learning, asking questions and you will get it.

The bright side is once you get in your groove, there are many things you can anticipate from knowing your patients symptoms or diagnosis. For example, if my patient has started spiking a temp, before I give tylenol to bring it down, are we giving antibiotics, is the WBC rising, have we done blood, urine, sputum cultures recently? If my pt comes in with acute MI, I can anticipate cardiac enzymes, o2, nitro, morphine, asa, beta blocker, possibly a trip to the cath lab for intervention. The older nurses who you see work and are in awe of the their skills have had a lot more practice than we have, that's why they're so good. Question everything, soak up the knowledge your resources have to offer, and you'll be surprised at how quickly your comfort level rises.

ccn28 · Mar 16, 2006

What you're feeling is completely normal. If you weren't worried about making mistakes, and learning from them, that would be a problem. New nurses who are over confident can get in big trouble real quick in the ICU setting. I think part of the hard thing about being a new grad in the ICU is that you are learning the basics of nursing along with the basics of ICU nursing skills. The simple things seasoned ICU nurses take for granted come harder when you are new. It takes a while, but keep learning, asking questions and you will get it.
The bright side is once you get in your groove, there are many things you can anticipate from knowing your patients symptoms or diagnosis. For example, if my patient has started spiking a temp, before I give tylenol to bring it down, are we giving antibiotics, is the WBC rising, have we done blood, urine, sputum cultures recently? If my pt comes in with acute MI, I can anticipate cardiac enzymes, o2, nitro, morphine, asa, beta blocker, possibly a trip to the cath lab for intervention. The older nurses who you see work and are in awe of the their skills have had a lot more practice than we have, that's why they're so good. Question everything, soak up the knowledge your resources have to offer, and you'll be surprised at how quickly your comfort level rises.

I am new to the ICU it has been comforting to read that I am not the only one that feels nervous every day before shift, and feel I will never understand it all!! and that I don't know anything!!! I like a challenge however this has been sooooooo much more!!!! I hope you are all settling in better and learning heaps...... this is my first time on this site it is awesome and so inspiring thanks :lol2: xxxx