New CCU/ICU nurse frustrations!!

ausrnurse · Jul 23, 2014

Try not to let it get to you. It's pretty old fashioned that you are even doing cardiac outputs on a patient :cheeky: In two years at my ICU, I've never seen a Swann-Ganz. I think they talked about one once as a joke.

Seriously though, it's part of working in a new area. It's an area you feel like you can't make a mistake in - but everybody does. There are a lot of big personalities and plenty of people that take pride in making new people feel stupid but honestly, one day you will get a sick person that you can manage on your own and you will be able to let it roll off your back.

Biffbradford · Jul 23, 2014

I was once told that I concentrate too hard. Huh? :facepalm: But later understood that I should have my eyes open and be aware of everything around me, but it takes time to learn this stuff! Hang in there. When I started I didn't know squat but lasted many years. You will too.

MrsICURN14 · Jul 24, 2014

Thanks guys!!

/username, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. It will get better though. :)

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

My ICU uses Swans all the time. Really just depends on the doctor. Most of our critical care specialists want them. I don't understand why nursing schools don't teach skills anymore. I hear so many new nurses who get out of school claim they "never did that in school." Yes, we use Swans and you are expected to stop everything and go set up for a Swan the minute the doctor decides he/she wants one. I have worked ICU/CCU at many different hospitals over the years, and we used them in every one. I know that every hospital doesn't, but many still do. (Before someone puts this down, remember, it doesn't matter what I think or want, but what the doctor wants.)

MrsICURN14 · Jul 24, 2014

My ICU uses Swans all the time. Really just depends on the doctor. Most of our critical care specialists want them. I don't understand why nursing schools don't teach skills anymore. I hear so many new nurses who get out of school claim they "never did that in school." Yes, we use Swans and you are expected to stop everything and go set up for a Swan the minute the doctor decides he/she wants one. I have worked ICU/CCU at many different hospitals over the years, and we used them in every one. I know that every hospital doesn't, but many still do. (Before someone puts this down, remember, it doesn't matter what I think or want, but what the doctor wants.)

Ive only been on the floor 5 times and I've seen several swans already. In nursing school we had one day of hey this is what it looks like this is what it does. Then I never actually saw one in clinical. In fact I never got to practice many of my ICU skills in school because I was at a hospital that had low acuity. So, most of this stuff is new to me.

GirlOnPfizer, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

It probably depends on the facility and doctors you work with. Every single one of our post-op open hearts and TAVR's come out with Swan's and we direct a lot of our care based on the patients cardiac output. We even see some manual cardiac outputs every once and a while. So for you to say this is old fashioned is a little silly because we are one of the largest freestanding heart hospitals in the nation and recognized as a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the nation. I don't think you accomplish that by being old fashioned. Either way, its a nice tool to have when looking at the big picture of caring for a post surgical patient.

As for the original question. I understand how you feel. I transferred to a cardiac ICU after 3 years of telemetry experience and I still felt like a new grad when I started on the unit. Don't ever feel embarrassed to ask for help or ask questions if you think it will be safer for the patient.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2014

((HUGS)) when you have questions come here....these sites may help....Welcome to Critical Care Medicine Tutorials and

[h=3]ICU FAQs[/h]

/username, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2014

((HUGS)) when you have questions come here....these sites may help....Welcome to Critical Care Medicine Tutorials and
ICU FAQs

As a baby nurse, ICU FAQs has been my go to for everything. It's such a steep learning curve.

SFANURSE2011, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2014

I definitely understand your pain. Do you have an educator? Most residency programs do. If so, you should talk to her and say your preceptor isn't working out for you. It is your right to learn in the most conducive situations as patient acuity allows. As for swans. you need to know the core theory behind it since critical care is all about hemodynamic stability. Don't take things personally, nurses like to eat their young. ICU nurses are known sometimes for being thick skinned.

MrsICURN14 · Jul 30, 2014

I definitely understand your pain. Do you have an educator? Most residency programs do. If so, you should talk to her and say your preceptor isn't working out for you. It is your right to learn in the most conducive situations as patient acuity allows. As for swans. you need to know the core theory behind it since critical care is all about hemodynamic stability. Don't take things personally, nurses like to eat their young. ICU nurses are known sometimes for being thick skinned.

Yes we have an educator. And actually we switched to day shift so I have a new preceptor now and she's great! Thanks guys for all the advice!