Best transition into ICU?

SCBlueICU · Sep 5, 2014

Either one I think. I did Telemetry for a year to start and it was perfect experience. Rhythm interpretation and understanding of cardiac issues helps a lot in the MICU. I'd imagine the specific cardiac focus would help more with CCU as well. I know at the hospital I did Tele for the CCU recruited several of our Tele nurses. I would be open to the possibility of working nights for a year or so when you first transition to critical care. Good luck!

Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

I'm a new grad that was hired directly into the MICU. It is possible.

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 7, 2014

"Best" would be to get into one of the quality nurse residency program specifically designed for training new grads into ICU. Usually they are 6-9 months in length and the better ones support their grads for a year or so with an assigned mentor. However if you have just passed the NCLEX you are probably way too late to apply to such a program.

In that case get into the highest level of care you can.

Natural510 · Sep 7, 2014

Many new nurses who can't get into ICU right away will start in an ICU or Cardiac Stepdown unit. It's a step up from med/surg or telemetry in that you'll be dealing with things like chest tubes, sheaths, bi-paps, chronic vents etc to help prepare you for an ICU setting.

nmpBSN · Sep 8, 2014

I'm a new grad that was hired directly into the MICU. It is possible.

Congrats, that's awesome to hear! Did you have any prior ICU experience (e.g. senior practicum/internship in nursing school or PCA/CNA job experience, etc.) before you got hired into the MICU?

nmpBSN · Sep 8, 2014

"Best" would be to get into one of the quality nurse residency program specifically designed for training new grads into ICU. Usually they are 6-9 months in length and the better ones support their grads for a year or so with an assigned mentor. However if you have just passed the NCLEX you are probably way too late to apply to such a program.
In that case get into the highest level of care you can.

I have heard of the nurse residency programs and if they offered programs like that where I live I would love to get into one, but unfortunately I live in a smaller town in Alabama and they don't offer those programs where I am at.

nmpBSN · Sep 8, 2014

Either one I think. I did Telemetry for a year to start and it was perfect experience. Rhythm interpretation and understanding of cardiac issues helps a lot in the MICU. I'd imagine the specific cardiac focus would help more with CCU as well. I know at the hospital I did Tele for the CCU recruited several of our Tele nurses. I would be open to the possibility of working nights for a year or so when you first transition to critical care. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice! Just curious, what was your nurse-patient ratio on your tele floor? I was actually offered a job in Telemetry at one of the best hospitals where i'm at and it's also a step-down unit for the Neuro ICU and they get some patients from the CCU as well. I'm highly considering accepting the position to work on that Tele unit if I am not able to directly get into an ICU first and i definitely wouldn't mind the experience that i would gain being on this unit considering that I am a new grad nurse with no icu experience. I actually have an interview for an ICU position in a couple of days, so hopefully it goes well!

MallysMama · Sep 8, 2014

Congrats on passing NCLEX and already having job offers/interviews!

I work in a SICU that gets cardiac and neuro patients (along with all kinds of other stuff). My manager hires mostly from the hospital's surgical floor (med/surg type floor). I was hired from a "sister" hospital and had been working on a mixed tele and med/surg floor. I was used to having 7 patients.

If your goal is MICU/CCU- tele experience will be incredibly helpful! Do you already have ACLS? If not- look into doing it soon. That could help with getting hired into a higher acuity setting (ICU or step-down). Good luck!!

Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN · Sep 9, 2014

Congrats, that's awesome to hear! Did you have any prior ICU experience (e.g. senior practicum/internship in nursing school or PCA/CNA job experience, etc.) before you got hired into the MICU?

Nope, no previous experience. I got my associates so we don't do a senior internship. Never worked as a tech before anywhere.

nmpBSN · Sep 10, 2014

Congrats on passing NCLEX and already having job offers/interviews!
I work in a SICU that gets cardiac and neuro patients (along with all kinds of other stuff). My manager hires mostly from the hospital's surgical floor (med/surg type floor). I was hired from a "sister" hospital and had been working on a mixed tele and med/surg floor. I was used to having 7 patients.
If your goal is MICU/CCU- tele experience will be incredibly helpful! Do you already have ACLS? If not- look into doing it soon. That could help with getting hired into a higher acuity setting (ICU or step-down). Good luck!!

Thank you!! How long did you work on the tele/med-surg floor before you moved to the SICU? I believe my interview I will have is in the SICU as well!! If there's any interview questions or prep you remember that you can give me some idea as to what my upcoming interview will be like i would very much appreciate it! I would have no problem working on the tele floor if i am not hired directly into the ICU, I've always loved anything cardiac related and think it's a great place to gain experience! And no I do not have my ACLS although I should've gotten it, but a lot of classmates/colleagues/nurses told me I didn't really need it because they offer it in training if I was to work in the ICU.

nmpBSN · Sep 10, 2014

Nope, no previous experience. I got my associates so we don't do a senior internship. Never worked as a tech before anywhere.

That's awesome to hear! How's working in the MICU as a new grad going?!