Published
I took the plunge and went for it! I think it's a good thing to do because as new grads we are so moldable. We haven't made our own decisions on how to do things and how things should go so when we go into critical care, they can mold us to be the nurses we need to be rather than having to break old habits or retrain.
Personally, I do not think a years experience on the floor will benefit you if your ultimate goal is the ICU. Yes, you gain valuable time management skills by having more patients but unless you plan on working on the floor later, it really doesn't come into play in the ICU. The ICU requires so much attention to detail and knowledge of complex physiological states, medications and treatments that if that is where you first learn how to function as a nurse floor, it would be a difficult adjustment. Not that floor nursing is a cakewalk, in fact, I give KUDOS to all floor nurses out there. We get pulled to the floor frequently and I could never do it full time, as I get nervous having 5-6 patient asssignments. Just give me my 2 vented, lined, sedated patients and I am a happy camper. Basically, what it comes down to, is unless you are truely lacking and want more exposure in basic nursing care and asessment skills to increase your confidence, skip the floor nursing and go straight to your passion, the ICU.
ErinN.
3 Posts
My passion is critical care and I LOVE IT!!! I am a new graduate but am not sure if I should jump feet first into an ICU or CCU...or is it best to get some experience on a floor prior? I believe that I could handle working in a critical care setting but don't know if it is the best option for a new grad. Any suggestions or stories? Thanks :)