ccu or Iccu/ new grad options

sunshines66, BSN · Mar 18, 2005

All good questions.

Why is one hospital better than the other? Who says? ads? other nurses?

I have had a variety of nursing jobs. I have found that having a nurse manager that has worked your exact job is better. The manager needs to have a straight forward personality and will manage not try to be friends with everyone.

Benefits are very important. It depends on how old you are, your health and the health of any one else you will be insuring.

If I was just starting out I would go with the position that had the best "new grad" program. I was very lucky to get into a hospital that had a good program classroom and preceptors. Just remember that now that you are done with school your are just starting to learn nursing. Expect to study if you start out in a critical care unit. You need to know norms, drugs, rhythms, emergency procedures. It is a lot to learn but if you are motivated it will be fun and challenging.

I have been a critical care nurse for 17 years and I started out in critical care.

Nights can be hard. Try to develop a pattern and keep to it. Room darkening shades an answering machine, and the ring off on the phone works wonders. I have also taped a note to my front door to leave packages so I wont get woke up with some one banging on my door. I did nights for 11 years and enjoyed 10 of them.

Good luck!

Berta B · Mar 31, 2005

I graduated recently in May 2004 and I went straight into ICU/CCU (in my hospital both units are interchangeable). Anyways, I decided to work for a facility that offered training for new graduates or RNs not trained in critical care. I was only given a 3 month training as opposed to the 6 month training I expected but I'm doing really good. You want to take into consideration what hospital is willing to allow more time for you to absorb everything you will be learning during orientation. Benefits and pay are important too, but if you're talking a few bucks difference, it's worth going to the facility with the better reputation. I work days and I find myself going crazy at times with all the doctors, procedures, and visitors throughout the day. I recently picked up a few night shifts for OT and OH MY GOD, I am switching to nights ASAP. Those were the easiest shifts ever worked, and on top of that, you get paid more. Even though the patients are asleep majority of the time, when they need something or when they are awake, you can provide your patient with more time and care. You'll learn more during the day but if you're like me, you'll prefer quiet time and uninterrupted time for documentation and paperwork. Good luck and let me know how it goes!