Accepted SICU! Need help in preparing.

Congratulations!!! I have accepted a job too in sicu at a level 2 hospital. I am cross-trained to a level 3 icu, but am a full-time psychiatric nurse at the moment. It was easy while i was finishing my bsn. The new job is a magnet hospital.

Is your facility offering didactic critical care training? Its appx 69 hours, but most take at least 100-120 hours to complete it. Have you found any sites to study from?

trisharnsicu - thanks for the response. I'll be doing ICU training classes for at least 32hrs and not quite sure of the ready of the "training". I start in 6 weeks so I wanted to know what to would be most helpful to study or research in the meantime. I bought an ICU and hemodynamics book to start reading. But anything else....?

Google Icufaqs and a great free resource should pop up. It explains things in a way for new guys to understand well. I reference it still years later.

Also, just relax. You'll learn as you go, don't expect to go in being knowledgable and safe, because nobody else there will think that. You'll be a baby ICU nurse, dangerous as C4. Just triple check yourself, ask tons of questions and work hard to absorb like a never-ending sponge for about a year or two.

Be proficient in your ability to identify different rhythms and which are lethal, which are not, and what you need to do. You already know electrolytes from your med/surg experience, look up your ABGs as well and different conditions that can cause metabolic/respiratory acidosis/alkalosis. The rest you will learn when you get hands on experience on your floor.

Hi RN0429,

Can you share your advice as to how to prepare as a new MSICU nurse? What references/books do you recommend? Thanks!! Hope all is well