new bsn grad in ICU

KatznKidz · Aug 2, 2003

They do hire both SN's and New grads in our ICU at the children's hospital. There is a large ICU staff and many with experience to mentor the new grads. Good luck in your search!!

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2003

Lots of hospitals will now hire new grads to ICUs. The hospital I am going to be working for in a month hires new grads to the MICU but not the SICU or CCU. Anyway, just be sure you get a really good orientation-- I'm getting 24 weeks. You can get a nurse externship in an ICU while in school, and then that will help you get a job there when you graduate. As far as I'm aware, you need one year of experience as a REGISTERED NURSE, student nurse doesn't cut it.

seewhiterabbit · Aug 3, 2003

Thank you EmeraldNYL

What does MICU, SICU and CCU stand for....?

I am guessning CCU is for critical care unit...

DO you get paid during your 24 week orientation?

How much are you getting paid...if you don't mind..and what city/state...?

What is the difference between externship and internship?

Thanks.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2003

Where I'm working they just call it an externship, I'm not sure how that differs from an internship-- basically it's 6 weeks or so during the summer where you do nursing assistant duties, maybe a little phelebotomy, and shadow the nurses on the unit. MICU is medical, SICU is surgical, CCU is coronary care unit (or critical care unit), CTICU is cardiothoracic, TICU is trauma, etc, etc.... Yes you should definitely get paid during orientation. I'm starting at $23.10 plus 10% differential for rotation or 20% differential for permanent nights (Philly, PA). Pay in an ICU is usually the same as for any other area of the hospital.

seewhiterabbit · Aug 3, 2003

Thank you for the information.

CarolinaGrl · Aug 3, 2003

I too am starting in MICU as a new grad. Most larger hospitals offer a new grad internship/orientation program for critical care. Mine has both classroom and clinical components to it.

As far as getting a position in an ICU, I don't think that it is any more difficult than other new grad spots - just apply early or contact the hospital as I know those hospitals that I was interested in only hired a limited number of new grads each year and when those spots were gone, they were gone.

While I did not have a chance to do an externship in my accelerated program, I did get some unit experience in my practicum. I was in an ICU for 10 weeks this summer, which may be an option for you in your BSN program.

AmiK25 · Aug 5, 2003

I would say to definitely to try get a position as a student nurse in an ICU while you are in your BSN program. I have worked in our ICU (large Medical/Surgical/Trauma unit in a Level One teaching hospital) for a year and half as a student and I am now getting ready to graduate (two weeks!!) and will stay on in the same ICU as a new grad/RN. The experience I received as a student was wonderful and I feel much more prepared to take on the role of RN than most of my classmates. As far as what types of experiences you will receive as a student in the ICU, that definitely depends on the unit. The nurses on my unit have been great in that they do not treat me like a nurses aide, they treat me like a student nurse. I am allowed to take patients, do assessments, gives meds (except IVP), and generally do most patient care with the guidance/supervision of an RN. I have become comfortable already with vents, pressors, swans, etc...I feel like my experience as a student has helped me enough that I will apply to CRNA school with the minimum of 1 year experience as an RN, whereas if I were a new grad just starting out, I probably would wait another year or so.