As a new grad should I seek critical care experience first?

[ErinN.]

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 :)

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

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.

[freeflowchi]

You should seek ANY experience right now.

[CAL05699]

I have been told that it is easier to start with critical care and "work down" (though I don't think it is downward at all). But right now, I think that you should take any job that you can get.

[ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN]

I am hoping to get on ICU or CCU myself... :)

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

Around here a lot of places prefer or require a year of medsurg. But I would definitely jump on it if you can and want to. Good luck!

[Bobbkat]

I've heard both good and bad about this. On one hand the learning curve is steep. On the other hand, you are still going full speed ahead in learning mode. Only way to know for sure if you can handle it is to try it, so if given the opportunity, I say go for it.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

I am in the same boat except I want to jump right into pediatrics. I think you should go for it if you have the opportunity. Good luck.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Follow your passion. :) Good luck!

[RaeRN30, BSN, RN]

Good luck:D I worked for a year in ICU as a student extern and absolutely loved it! Unfortunately they were not hiring new grads:crying2: I accepted a job on a telemetry floor with the promise of moving to the unit when positions open up.

[simmaron]

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.