best personality traits for critical care

RNforLongTime · Jun 6, 2006

I think that a "type B" can survive in an ICU environment as I am the same way. But you HAVE to know when you need to be assertive with doctors, patients, families. Especially with the doctors because the pt's life could be at stake if you are not. It also helps to be very well organized, have good time management skills, top notch assessment skills as alot of times, it's the nurse at the bedside that notices changes in the pt conditions that need to be called to the doc ASAP!

Don't be afraid to call the doc! Even if it's 3 am! If it's something important, I'd rather err on the side of notifying the physician than not calling him/her and have something go seriously wrong with the pt. And make sure that you DOCUMENT that you notified the physician. That's saved me a few times when a Dr tried to say that I DIDNT notify him when I had and tried to have me fired!

Don't be afraid to stand up to other nurses/co-workers. Don't let others walk on you. If you disagree with someone, tell them in the nicest way possible. Good luck! I love Critical Care Nursing!

ready4crna? · Jun 6, 2006

My experience is that as long as you can advocate for your patients, and that may mean being a little.....pushy, then your "type B" may not matter.

I would caution you though, that you want to be sure you entering a supportive environment. Moving from the floor to the ICU should be treated as though you are learning it all again. I am not at all saying that you don't know anything, but that the knowlege is applied with a little more autonomy. Let me see if I can clarify it a little better. Depending on the unit and overall hospital acuity, you may see things that would previously been a "call the doctor then act" scenario, now it's a "Get that Doctor OOB NOW as you simultaneously intervene."

Learning the ICU way needs to be supported, if you have a toxic ICU work environment, where only the type A's survive, then you may want to go to another facility.

The team approach you mention also will lend to your success in any ICU worth anything.

I hope this helps and maybe affords you more confidence.

findingmywayRN · Jun 8, 2006

Thank you both for your input!

Nurse-lou I am glad to hear that you are a type B and working very well in a critical care environment. Your enthusiasm is very encouraging to me!

ready4crna? is there anyway to know if there is a toxic ICU environment before starting the position? I would like to shadow, but are there any red flags I should look out for or questions I should ask that may reveal this type of situation?

ready4crna? · Jun 8, 2006

Finding-

I think if they offer a decent length orientation (12-24 weeks) with educational backup (a service such as Essentials of Critical Care Orientation [ECCO]). Then you should have no worries. Depending on your skill level and knowledge base you may not need the entire time or education, but the unit should be willing to offer that kind of support.

As for red flags when you shadow, the biggest one will be if the nurse that you follow seems "put out" that they have to have you follow them. Observe and see if the other staff members work well with each other to get the job done, this will best be seen in situations such as admissions and "crashes".

Unfortunately, there are no questions that will be sure fire ways of figuring out what type of culture you will be entering. But, you can always ask about evidenced-based practice. I have found in my own practice that if they act negatively to that specific term, they are probably not a good place to develop critical care skills.

I hope this helps further.

findingmywayRN · Jun 13, 2006

Finding-
As for red flags when you shadow, the biggest one will be if the nurse that you follow seems "put out" that they have to have you follow them. Observe and see if the other staff members work well with each other to get the job done, this will best be seen in situations such as admissions and "crashes".
Unfortunately, there are no questions that will be sure fire ways of figuring out what type of culture you will be entering. But, you can always ask about evidenced-based practice. I have found in my own practice that if they act negatively to that specific term, they are probably not a good place to develop critical care skills.
I hope this helps further.

ready4crna? You've given me a lot of important things to hone in on once I do decide to shadow. Sounds like you've got a lot of experience in this area - thanks for sharing it with me:)