New Grad MICU Interview

[OUxPhys, BSN, RN]

Hello,

I recently had an interview in the MICU at the hospital I work at. I am about to be a new grad. I have always wanted to work in cardiac but our cardiac floors are OK. If given the chance I would go to the Cleveland Clinic.

My biggest worry is that I feel like I dont know enough to work in the MICU. I feel as though I have not been exposed to a lot of disease processes such as respiratory and GI. The good news about this MICU is they have a very senior staff and are eager to teach new grads. They also have a longer orientation (16 weeks).

My question is this: Has anyone in here gone into the MICU as a new grad feeling under prepared, nervous, scared? If so how did you overcome it? I really would like to work in cardiac but I would have to go to a stepdown floor first (which is OK) at the other hospital, but I feel like I would regret passing on this opportunity if it was presented to me.

Thanks!

[nursepeaches]

Well I probably can't give you the answers you are looking for but I am a new grad who just accepted an ICU position. My heart is really set to work in critical care and I know that is where I belong but I have the same concerns as you. If they are willing and eager to teach new grads and you really want to be in ICU, I think that is a good sign :). I plan to start studying critical care nursing books and breaking open my text books right after graduation. Good Luck!

[sabina361]

I was in your exact position last year. I knew I wanted to work in critical care but as a new grad it's a scary feeling. It's completely normal to feel nervous about it. I am so glad I chose to work in MICU and I have learned a tremendous amount in just such a short year. Our hospital has an extensive orientation period and I wasn't able to hit the floor even with my clinical coach until doing about 30 hours of ICU modules online. After starting on the floor my clinical coach and pretty much everyone else in the unit was so helpful. Everything was a new experience. Now looking back to a year ago, I am leaps and bounds more confident but there are still days where I have no clue what is going on. But that's where the unit is different. We all help each other and you're never quite on your own completely. I think it's a great choice and if you study study study, you'll do great. Get yourself some critical care / ICU nursing books and learn all you can before hitting the floor.

[OUxPhys, BSN, RN]

The hospital I work at now has a 16 week orientation period for new grads in the ICU. They also have a new grad ICU float pool that has a 22 week orientation. It is reassuring they have longer orientations and the senior staff look forward to teaching new grads.

[fieldnotesxx]

Curious nursing student here!

Did you have any extra credentials on your resume/ personal/ school connections when you got accepted into your ICU jobs as fresh grads? Any volunteer work, ICU preceptorships, etc. Which states are you from (if you don't mind answering)?

[AFwifeRN, BSN, RN]

I graduated May '14 and didn't start looking for a job until the end of Feb '15 (new baby). In the meantime though, I volunteered as an RN at a clinic that serves the uninsured population. I still do it because I enjoy it. I did my preceptorship in the ICU and graduated with a 4.0 and glowing recs. I'm in the Colorado Springs area, and it took me 5 weeks to get an ICU job. I knew since about halfway through my ADN program that ICU was where I wanted to be, and I was determined to do what it took to get there. I think determination and working hard is a lot of the battle. Not to sound cocky, but I just knew that if I could get an ICU interview, I would get the job. I knew my excitement and preparation would shine through and it did. My advice is to do EVERYthing in nursing school at 100% even if you think it won't matter (like some small group work project) because you never know who is watching. You might need them to recommend you down the line :) Good luck and enjoy school! It goes by quickly.