Critcal care as new grad

future_anesthetist, BSN, CNA, RN · Dec 26, 2013

Is it possible for a new grad from an ADN program to get hired in a Critical Care Unit now or in the next couple of years? I'm just asking this because I keep on reading these posts about how new grads are not wanted in these type of units, or actually in any unit whatsoever unfortunately[/quote']
Yes it's possible. There are residency programs that are tailored to new grads and a lot have a critical care placement. A lot of the hospitals want BSNs only and I've been turned down quite a bit due or not having a BSN. However, they ARE our there and it also depends on your area. California May be difficult, Oklahoma maybe not so much...? I graduated a little over 6 months ago, have been working in med surg and was just recently offered 3 different ICU internship positions. It all depends on the applicant.

tap87 · Dec 26, 2013

It is possible! I have a BSN though...got hired in an ICU shortly after graduating. The manager actually told me they prefer to hire new grads! Good luck - it is possible :)

cole9 · Dec 31, 2013

I'm a recent grad, I do have a BSN, but others that were hired with me have their ADN. I'm at a smaller, semi-rural hospital. I was hired right into the CCU/ICU.

Maybe look at smaller hospitals? They seem to have greater turnover and need people more.

dandelion9 · Dec 31, 2013

It's possible. I am a new grad, ADN-RN, and am starting soon in the MICU at a teaching hospital, level 1 trauma center, with multiple ICUs.

Tips: Research the new-grad programs in your area and if possible, job shadow, do observations, or do your preceptorship there. Work hard, ask good questions, and make good contacts. Network DURING nursing school with the nurses on your assigned units, and prove yourself to be a worthy candidate through grades and clinical performance.

BlondieRN0912 · Dec 31, 2013

It is definitely possible. I graduated in May of 2012 from an Accelerated BSN program. Started a new grad internship in a CVICU at a large hospital immediately after graduation and just got accepted to CRNA school! Definitely look for hospitals offering new graduate internships. If you can get a job in a hospital as a tech, even better. I arranged shadowing in the CVICU I work in prior to interviewing for the internship. I made it a point to introduce myself to the Nurse Manager and all of the nurses I met that day. The opinions of the staff nurses can go a loooonnngg way in landing an internship. Good luck!

Chad Collins · Jan 6, 2014

I graduated in May 2013 and I went straight into a Cardiac PCU unit with is a step down but still considered critical care at my hospital. And right now I only have my ADN but I am getting my BSN in a bridge program

Stratiotes · Jan 10, 2014

Many new grads have been accepted into our ICU, though it is a smallish hospital. However, we do take open hearts and stuff--so it isn't an "easy" ICU.

I started after a year of med surg right along with some new grads, and I can tell you that I didn't feel that my med-surg experience gave me any advantage over them except perhaps a little edge in my time management skills and familiarity with charting. I'd say that the most important thing is making sure that you get a good orientation or residency and learn who are the best resources on your unit to seek help from.

megan9107 · Jan 11, 2014

Yes. I just graduated with an ASN. My advice is to find a nurse extern job in a hospital that you would like to be at. I nurse externed during my last semester of nursing school and was hired into an RN position before graduation into the Critical Care Unit pending passing boards. I am now an RN and orienting to the unit. I also had virtually no work experience except for my extern position. I am 21 years old, so yep new grads and even babies like me can be hired into a unit following graduation. Nurse residency programs are the way to go. You just have to start the hunt early. Good luck!

Nurse Rebecca · Jan 11, 2014

It's possible, but not recommended. New grads need to spend a year on the floor. ICU and ER nurses give floor nurses a hard time but it IS a very hard job. They need to remember. If they never worked there then they can't relate. Every nurse should spend a year on med/surg or tele, makes no difference. Ask an ICU nurse to manage 4 or 5 patients, AAAAHHHH!!!! I've been a nurse for 10 years and an ICU nurse for 9 years.

PatMac10,RN, RN · Jan 11, 2014

I got hired to the CVICU right out of school, actually 2 of us did. We are both ADN grads who are currently doing RN to BSN programs. We have had no issues. Have we had a lot to learn, yes, but that is the case regardless if you've never working in an ICU setting. We starting taking Fresh heart's, or CABG patients, together with an experienced nurse from our 3rd week.

Now 2014 District Convention - Day 1I, and my co-worker who is also a new grad, are 6 months out from starting and we are taking fresh hearts independently and have been for almost 2 months.

We received a very detailed and thorough orientation and everyone has been so great on our unit. Do we still have to ask questions sometimes, heck yes! Lol!!! However, we are doing very well and have had no problems at all.

I think success in the icu setting is very much dependent on the individual, their work mates and environment, and the orientation and continued education they receive.

I think some icu nurses are flexible enough to be able to do med-surg. We help staff a telemetry when our census is low or when we need extra time. On the telemetry unit we take up to 5 patients. Typically med/surg nurses take a max of 6 patients at our hospital.

erikay408 · Feb 1, 2014

To all those who say you "have to spend a year or 2 on the floor", you're wrong. Dead wrong. I worked as a PCT and telemetry tech while in nursing school and at the time I was graduating, there were three other techs doing the same. Our nursing manager advised us that she only had one or two open RN positions, so we should all apply to other units at the hospital. I applied to CICU (at a LARGE, VERY WELL-KNOWN, CLINICALLY ADVANCED TEACHING HOSPITAL). There was an emergency event during my share day and I subsequently impressed the supervisors on the floors during the event, even after being told that it was impossible to get into an ICU as a new grad.

Almost a year out, after an amazing orientation, I am a comprehensive, excelling, critical-thinking nurse. I have been floated to other units (MICU, SICU, Neuro ICU and our step-down, PCU, which is our telemetry floor) where I've done just fine. While our staffing office protects our ICU nurses from being floated to a Med-Surg floor, I've had 4 patients on PCU and my time management was amazing, even compared to their staff nurses. It should be obvious that you have to make adjustments with additional, yet less critical patients. I absolutely love my job and knowing that even being fairly "green", there's really no hospital that wouldn't hire me with my resume r/t the hospital and unit I work on. I know a lot of nurses who's intention was to start out on a floor for a year or two and transition to the unit....5 years ago. Now, ICU's don't want to adopt their bad habits. Start out in an ICU. Ignore the old nursing cliches and unsupportive attitudes; nursing needs to start heading in a new direction.