Advice about Critical care

[jundem]

Hi

I am new to the board but I have a big question. I am a nurse with 30 years diversified experience. the last 10 years have been in conscious sedation in GI procedures. I want a change I want bedside nursing. Do you think I am at 50 to old to work in an ICU? And what would I need to prepare for such a transistion?

I am ACLS already.

[mcknis]

I would suggest to talk to this girl ( https://allnurses.com/forums/members/183506.html) about going into ICU. Although she is a new grad, she has been a blessing to me when i have had a question. It may be worth your while.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

mcknis,

Wow - you're sort of going "upstream", aren't you? Normally, as ICU nurses age, we move into areas like yours. Are you just needing a change? I can totally understand that.

ICU is a more demanding environment. Competence includes an expectation of being able to quickly assess very complex situations and make independent decisions. Although there are 'charge nurses', they normally just handle operational issues - don't provide clinical supervision.

ICU practice requires a very deep understanding or physiology - absolutely necessary in order to analyze changes & accurately intervene. Ex: You may be titrating multiple IV drips, and have to determine which one to 'tweak' to obtain desired results.. choosing the wrong one is going to make the situation worse.

A good start - get a copy of the Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO) and start plowing through it. I would also recommend taking advantage of any formal transition program that your facility offers to newbies. Although these are most likely targeted toward new grads, you would definitely benefit.

Fair warning - ICU pace can be exhausting. Continuous and fast paced -- a "it's been 12 hours & I haven't had a chance to go to the bathroom" kind of place. Lots of unpredictable events & getting multiple MD specialists to "play nice" with each other.

Hey - It's my favorite clinical setting !!!!