Anyone go from ICU to med-surg?

SICU Queen · Jan 13, 2008

I think you're not giving yourself enough time. There is no way in 7 months that you're going to be 100% comfortable taking care of the critically ill. You WILL get there; just persevere and educate yourself as much as possible.

That being said, I do know some nurses that have gone from ICU to places like Telemetry or Stepdown. Perhaps you could look into that? Or maybe a smaller ICU, that has patients with a lower acuity, at another hospital?

Good luck to you... and you WILL find your niche. It just takes time. :up:

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Jan 13, 2008

Hi all. I have been working for 7 months in a busyy ICU (new grad). Im feeling as though I should have started out in something less critical; and Im seriously considering transferring to a regular nursing floor. Has anyone done this? I kind of feel like a failure...but I just dont think I have the "ICU nurse personality"...the pt's are so critical and Im so overwhelmed...I hate going in to work. My manager and educator are so helpful, but i dont feel safe. My big fear is, what if i do transfer to med surg and Im bad at that too?
Any tips? Is this a smart move? Our hospital is unionized; so the max number of pt's the floor nurses will have is 6. Im also afraid that since Im so used to only having 2 pts, I would have trouble with time management.
Thanks!

Yup--

I started in the ICU, hated it, didn't like the intense people, the critical patients, the unforgiving atmosphere. After my father passed away (preceded by several months of crisis and my dealing with many medical and financial decisions) I decided that I just didn't need the stress. I didn't feel like I had to prove myself.

So I went to a med-surg floor, where the people were very supportive and friendly. Felt much better about nursing, did that for a year, and now have transferred into wound care, which I love.

If you decided to move, you would pick up on the time management. Also, because you have seen critical patients, the patient problems probably won't freak you out.

Also, you can always go back to ICU if you want. I think there is definitely an ICU personality, and I wasn't it.

Good luck!!

Oldiebutgoodie

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2008

Like SICU Queen said, it takes time to become comfortable in ICU. It took me about 2 years and that was after a couple years as a paramedic then 7 months in Med/surg. I loved ICU for 7 years then the facility I worked at closed. I supervised in a large geriatric facility (325 beds) for 5 years then went back to ICU and found it was not my thing anymore. I found I like talking to my patients and their families so I went to a telemetry unit and now I am back to traveling. Do what feels right for you, you will find your place in nursing.

5toedragon · Jan 13, 2008

Icu Isn't For Everyone, And As A New Nurse I Can See Where Your Anxiety Comes From. What Was Your Reasoning In The First Place, Fewer Patients Per Nurse Ratio?

Nursing In General Has A Learning Curve. Icu's Learning Curve Is Usually Based On Already Having Substantial Floor Experience.. You Placed Your Self In A Demanding Situation By Not Having The Floor Experience First.

Yes, You Will Have To Learn A Different Set Of Time Management Skills For The Floor But One Can't Be Afraid Of Going To Work Because Your Skills Are Not Yet Up To Par For The Task At Hand In The Unit.

Your Experience In The Unit Will Be Your Blueprint For What You Need To Learn On The Floor Without The Perceived Life Or Death Struggle Of The Unit Hanging Over You.

So Go Back And Pick Up The Experience You Need And Trannsfer Back Later When You Have A Stronger Nursing Base.

RNperdiem, RN · Jan 13, 2008

My advice would be to do some looking around. You have a job, so the bills are getting paid, and you will make no desperate moves, right?

If you want to switch to med surg, start looking around now at what is out there and who is hiring.

Look for a floor with a supportive atmosphere, a good nurse to patient ratio, and enough support staff.

Beware of floors offering large sign-on bonuses, where there is a high turnover, where every other nurse you meet is a floater, new grad or agency nurse, or an unfriendly atmosphere.

When you reach the one year mark, leave on good terms with your former manager. You never know when you might want to switch to ICU.

CactusFlower · Jan 13, 2008

I am a long time ICU nurse facing floating to a medsurg floor with the expectation of taking a full assignment. Just the opposite from you. PO pills--if it hasn't been IV, I haven't been given it--ever!

Many ICU environments can be "balls to the wall" as I put it. I prefer the intensity, but many nurses do not. It sounds as if you have supportive management but said nothing of your co-workers. Many times this is the root of all evil. There are many threads on this forum about "eating our young". This is a tired old dance, but I still see it played out. Are your coworkers supportive and approachable?

TraumaGirl1018 · Jan 13, 2008

wow, thanks for all the responses! As for my co-workers, the majority of them are very helpful. There are only one or two that arent, but I suppose you'll have that anywhere. Sometimes I feel like I havent given myself a chance (only being there 7 months), but I feel deep down in my heart that this isnt for me.

My reason for starting in ICU is, well, I thought I would like the critical patients. I just feel overwhelmed. I could transfer to a unit IN my hospital, the regular floors are hiring. Im going to talk to my manager tomorrow morning after work.

I still need to talk things through with my husband, and I'd like to maybe shadow a day on med-surg to see what a typical day is like.

Thanks again for the advice.

klmRN234 · Jan 13, 2008

When I graduated in '86, our class was advised to work on a med/surg floor for at least a year before going to another speciality. I took that to heart and worked on a ped's med/surg floor for two years before transferring to the PICU. I was extremely happy that I did the floor training first. It really is like trying to run before you can walk if do ICU first without any other experience. Not that people can't and haven't done ICU first, but it just makes it soooo much harder!