Hi Scott,
New grads can definitely go straight into the ICU. I think the best way to do it is to work as a student nurse extern in the ICU while you're in school, and then get into a really good new grad RN ICU internship program (which would preferably be with the same hospital you work at as a SNE) when you graduate. A good ICU internship program/orientation should be at least 12 weeks long.
Being a SNE on ICU will give you some valuable exposure to the role you will have as an RN. Therefore, it won't seem as overwhelming when you graduate.
Good luck!
PS - A really neat informative website, devised by a guy on here, is
www.icufaqs.org
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