Advice needed. I want to try ICU

meandragonbrett · Jan 16, 2009

Icufaqs.org is a good basic intro to common things in the unit.

perkizme · Jan 16, 2009

Hopefully your hospital has some sort of internship or orientation program to help you transition into the ICU setting. There is a wealth of knowledge about critical care nursing online and you can always go out and buy a used critical care nsg textbook to start learning some of the basics of critical care nursing. Many skills/knowledge comes with ICU experience as you work with the critically ill. Pacep.org is a good site to become familiar with hemodynamics, SG caths, etc. if you're interested in CCU. :heartbeat

sweetlilnurse77 · Jan 27, 2009

I worked med/surg tele for a few years and LOVED tansitioning into CCU! It took me a solid 6 months to feel like I wasn't a new grad all over again! Working in critical care has been so rewarding and I hope you enjoy it. You can learn so many new things. I have "hemodynamics made incredibly visual"--a great book/ resource for CCU. Bought it off amazon. If you are interested in CCU I would study up on your 12 lead EKGs as well!:heartbeat

ICU/CCU, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2009

" I like the idea of being at the bedside more. Knowing that everything was done."

I would say that if your hospital has a transition program and will give you proper orientation, you should go ahead and try ICU. Your post caused a bit of concern with what you said about being at the bedside more and "knowing that everything was done." You are at the bedside more, but you don't always have the time to pamper or get everything done. I orient new grads and experienced nurses to the unit regularly. I had an experienced nurse start last week and she made a comment about how she thought it would be easier to keep up with only two patients because it is hard to juggle five on the tele floor. I agree that it is hard to juggle five, but I said, "You would be suprised how busy two patients can keep you. Actually you would be surprised how busy ONE patient can keep you!"

We started with two "easy" patients that I thought were well within her ability and quickly sent one to cath lab because he was extending his MI and sent the other to OR. Well, the cath lab patient ended up being our only patient the rest of the day and we never left the room - two of us! He went into failure, got a balloon pump, intubated, swan and central line, plus the addition of pressors and other drips. Even after12 years doing this, I still go home sometimes feeling like I didn't get everything done.

newrn05 · Jan 28, 2009

Oh please don't get me wrong....I know that ICU is a very busy place. I do not think for a minute that there is less work and time to pamper. What I mean by everything being done is I know that the foley got emptied and charted. I know what the vitals are at all times. That type of thing. I spend so much time double checking my vitals because experienced cna's can't seem to remember to come tell the nurse that the patient has a temp of 102 or a blood pressure of 80/40 or 200/100. That type of thing. I know ICU is intense and I feel I have good assessment and clinical skills. It's the being in an area that intense that I am not sure of. Hope that clears that up a little.

ICU/CCU, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2009

That must be frustrating when the CNA's don't keep you informed! I think nurses who have a little concern about moving to another area is a good thing. The fact that you are so conscientious and a little worried is a sign that you will do well!

sweetlilnurse77 · Jan 28, 2009

It is true that one patient can keep you as busy as 8 med/surg pts sometimes (I know because I have done both!)----But--you don't spend your time looking for a blood pressure cuff, hunting down vitals etc. It's right in front of you! I still have nights that I don't feel like I've gotten everything done, but those nights are much less than when I worked med/surg/tele. Report is more in depth and you do know every detail about your pts--that is a great feeling! Just study, study, study and ask questions. You have great knowledge going into ICU/CCU and you will find out just how strong of a nurse you are by all of the new challenges!:heartbeat!!