Any advice for a nurse tech starting out in ICU?

[wannabenursetx]

I'm a nursing student in my second semester and was just hired as a nurse tech in the ICU. I start my orientation this weekend. Any advice for me? Obviously, being a nurse tech, I will only be able to do certain skills - inserting foleys, ng tubes, starting iv's, but no hanging iv meds or solution.

I'm a little nervous but am also very excited and want to be of as much help to the nurses as possible. Any seasoned ICU nurses that would be willing to give me advice and suggestions would be very much appreciated!!:wink2:

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

I'd say be a sponge. Ask lots of questions!!!! Find the nurse that wants to teach you about ICU nursing. That being said, lend a hand to those that need it. It is always nice to have another set of hands to turn a patient or hold up a leg for a dressing change. Your time as a nurse tech will be very valuable to you, so don't waste your time. If you see a new procedure, go home and read up on it. Oh yeah, and have fun!!!!!

Good Luck,

Jay

[love-d-OR]

Well I'm not a seasoned nurse, can I still drop a line? While in nursing school I worked as an aide in a float pool. I loved floating to the ICU. What I found rewarding was always ensuring that the nurses had all the supplies they needed, and I always offered my assistance (even when they don't ask, we ICU nurses can be pretty self-sufficient at times). The nurses could always tell the nursing students from the regular CNA's. I would also observe during codes, procedures or just simple dressing changes.

[dopaminequeenRN]

I was a tech before being a nurse, so I know how demanding that job can be. I can share with you some experiences from the ICU I work in and the things we nurses do and do not like about our techs.

Please don't:

Tell the nurse how to do her job.

Harrass the nurse about trivial things when her patient is crashing

Roll your eyes or cop an attitude if she asks you for help

Constantly be on your cell phone (my personal pet-peeve)

Please do:

Take initiative and be proactive

Be gentle with the patient's tubes, IV's, etc.

Show interest and ask questions--most of us love to explain things if

we have the time!

If you have a genuine desire to help people and be good at your job, then you will be fine. It's obvious which techs/nurses are burned out and they are usually the ones who have problems at work. I'm sure you will do great, because if you didn't care about your job, you wouldn't be asking for advice. Good luck and have fun!!