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| No. 20 | 
Jul 23, 2009, 02:36 PM
Updated
Jul 23, 2009 at 02:43 PM by nurse2be09
 Re: New Grad starting off in ICU Originally Posted by studentinnursing  Wow, loved reading your story. I have seen extern for tele jobs, so that is great info, thanks. I didn't realize you could even choose where to do clinicals or senior practicum, etc.
I've been thinking about CNA to get my foot in the door while doing prereq's (only 5 left!). I was going to do a CNA prep over these few weeks of break, but I didn't know if I could get anything in ICU as a CNA and/or get enough experience where it will make a difference.
I have two children, current career (work at home, very flexible hours), and full-time college; since I would be taking a large pay cut going to CNA, I really need to keep my current job as well to pay the bills and it is flexible for me to keep my grades up--then do CNA poole maybe for some kind of experience? Since I will only be able to do very minimal hours as a CNA, do you still think it will give me some valuable experience and/or help when trying to get into ICU? I have a year to get some experience before nursing starts--hopefully only a year  .
I don't know if they have CNA's for the ICU. I know they use Techs, or PCT's. Usually, after your first semester of nursing school, you can get a job as a tech or a PCT. I know someone I went to school with landed her ICU job as a tech during clinical rotations. She impressed a nurse and doctor so much that the nurse went straight to the ICU manager and said "hire her". She was hired the next day! She worked as a tech in the ICU during nursing school, did her Capstone in the ICU, and now she is a RN in the ICU. If I were you, I'd start applying for tech, PCT or Nurse Intern jobs after the first semester of nursing school. That way, you don't have to pay more money for a CNA course. Even if you get to be a tech on a Tele floor, that's good. When I worked as a Nurse Intern on a tele floor, I was floated to the ICU often. Mainly for 1:1's or just to help out doing tech duties, such as foley's baths, drains, blood sugars, things of that nature. This also helped when I went to interview for the ICU.
I would wait until you've learn the foundations of nursing to start applying for jobs and you will get that knowledge base in your first semester of nursing school.
As far as clinicals goes, your program should give you a critical care rotation. We had 3 weeks of ICU rotation during our Adult Health II clinicals. As far as your Capstone or Internship goes, this is where you (the student) will pick an area of nursing that is your interest and you will spend the last 7 weeks or so of your program working for free LOL! Our program asked for 3 areas, and they will try to place you with your first choice. There were so many folks wanting ICU/Tele. Labor and Delivery was another big one. I wanted the OR and only 3 people total wanted it, so we all got our first choice. I really regreted not doing my Capstone in the ICU, but I made up for lost time in the PACU.
You said you were getting your ADN, it's best to ask if they do a Capstone or Internship. The ADN's program in my area don't do Capstone or Internships. However, the ADN's programs in my area focus alot more on clinical time and taking full patient loads as part of their regular clinical rotations.
When are you starting nursing school?
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 21 |
Jul 23, 2009, 04:04 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
St. Petersburg College (way closer to home) and I might apply to USF's BSN; I'm doing BSN either school.
| | No. 22 |
Jul 23, 2009, 04:22 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
nurse2be09,
I enjoyed reading how you landed in the ICU. I completed a summer externship in the Operating Room (tried for ICU but that is where I landed). I found the OR environment fascinating and enjoyed learning about the various surgeries (especially neurosurgery and cardiac). However, after this experience, ICU was still my first choice.
Some of your comments reminded me of some the responses I have received as a nursing student. Originally Posted by nurse2be09 Also, my preceptor for the OR told me I would do good in the ICU because I pay close attention to detail and I ask alot of questions and have a desire to learn. I am also a structured person so that helps as well. I had a few nurses I used to work with on the Tele unit tell me the same thing because they would see me looking things up and asking them alot of questions. Not to mention, I like to "critically think" and find challenge in putting the pieces together.
I was chucking with the above.  I received similar comments as well from one of my clinical instructors who spent majority of her career in the Operating Room and a couple of the OR folks I worked with during my externship (e.g., pay close attention to details and asking a lot of questions). The one that was ingrained into my mind was after asking one of my "why" questions with this one scrub tech, she responded saying I was too smart to work in the OR and to look into working in the critical care setting (repeated this numerous times while working alongside her, in front of the other nurses). I was little perplexed by her statement because I know intelligent men/women work in the OR too. Anyway, similar to you, I'm too curious and want to understand what is going on with the pathophysiology, pharm, etc., and the reasons behind certain procedures/actions.
| | No. 23 |
Jul 23, 2009, 04:22 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
St. Petersburg College's ADN is where I'm applying for RN, sorry, don't know why I mentioned BSN.
| | No. 24 |
Jul 23, 2009, 05:35 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU Originally Posted by Dreamer-RN nurse2be09,
I enjoyed reading how you landed in the ICU. I completed a summer externship in the Operating Room (tried for ICU but that is where I landed). I found the OR environment fascinating and enjoyed learning about the various surgeries (especially neurosurgery and cardiac). However, after this experience, ICU was still my first choice.
Some of your comments reminded me of some the responses I have received as a nursing student.
I was chucking with the above. I received similar comments as well from one of my clinical instructors who spent majority of her career in the Operating Room and a couple of the OR folks I worked with during my externship (e.g., pay close attention to details and asking a lot of questions). The one that was ingrained into my mind was after asking one of my "why" questions with this one scrub tech, she responded saying I was too smart to work in the OR and to look into working in the critical care setting (repeated this numerous times while working alongside her, in front of the other nurses). I was little perplexed by her statement because I know intelligent men/women work in the OR too. Anyway, similar to you, I'm too curious and want to understand what is going on with the pathophysiology, pharm, etc., and the reasons behind certain procedures/actions.
Don't get me wrong, I did learn alot in the OR, but it was not patient focused. I wanted more hands on patient focused experience. And another thing about the OR was I would have missed out on my patient contact.
And I remember asking the surgeons so many questions, like "why this or that"? And I would spend time reading the patient's chart, trying to figure out "why" they were getting the surgery, checking lab values, looking at H&P, etc. I would do this while my preceptor was charting and the surgeons and scrub techs were "shooting the breeze" about any and everything under the sun.
When I got to the PACU, I spent alot of time tending to the patients and also looking at charts and doctor's orders. I did get a chance to push some meds and remove a few foley's and IV's. I also got to do some extubations, which were cool! I seen a couple of patients put on the vent for about 30 minutes (the ones who have history of smoking and didnt take anasthesia well), then the next thing you know, they are extubated and sitting there talking and eating ice. That was my first experience with a patient crashing.
I had a bunch of great nurses to mentor me for the small amount of time I was there. All of them started off in the ICU and pretty much told me I have the "personality" for the ICU. | | No. 25 |
Jul 23, 2009, 10:01 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
Interesting thread! Seems like a lot of you are studying at home...kudos to you guys! Perhaps it has more to do with personal learning style and also the type of orientation you're getting. I get 2 days a week in class with no patients; just me, two other nurses, and our brilliant nurse educater going at it for hours and hours and hours. It's absolutely fabulous. Also, when I'm on the unit, I am surrounded by co-workers who love to teach, and offer to do so at any moment. Not sure how other hospitals are doing it...anyone want to chime in here?
I agree that it takes a lot of work to succeed in this atmosphere. My days are rarely easy. It's the hardest (most rewarding) job I've ever had. The learning curve is extraordinarily steep and you will need to surround yourself with support, both in and out of work. I know there are those who will not make it, however, I don't think it has to do entirely with the fact that they don't study at home. Everyone has their own style of learning, and the fact that our profession can accommodate such differences is one of the beauties of nursing.
| | No. 26 |
Jul 23, 2009, 10:52 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
great thread! Did you have ACLS prior to starting on the unit?
| | No. 27 |
Jul 23, 2009, 10:54 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU Originally Posted by celclt great thread! Did you have ACLS prior to starting on the unit?
No, I don't. I asked about this during my interview and was told by the nurse manager I would get it by the end of the year, right around the time I'm getting off orientation.
I'm in the New Grad Residency Program for 6 months anyway.
| | No. 28 |
Jul 23, 2009, 11:57 PM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
Thank you for this thread! I too dream of working in ICU straight out of nursing school. I didn't think it was possible so this thread got me excited & informed all at once. Congrats to all the new nurses starting in ICU. I have 2 questions for everyone: 1.) Did you graduate from an ADN or BSN program? 2.) Where are you located? Please include city & state if you don't mind. TIA : )
| | No. 29 |
Jul 24, 2009, 08:01 AM
Re: New Grad starting off in ICU
I graduated from an ADN and I live in Maryland.
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