Critical care unit for a new graduate?

[Sabrina1]

I am a new graduate and I applied for a job in many places, but I was unsuccessful until recently. I've got a job offer today in critical care unit in a large hospital. I had applied for other positions also, but they proposed me to work in CCU. They sure give training for a few weeks before startig to work in CCU, but I am a little nervous to work in CCU because I am a rookie nurse. I am desperate to find a job, so I am willing to work in any unit, but CCU job offer makes me a little scared. Am I worrying too much?

[NICU_RN_CN]

Dont worry, if you want to work in the Critical Care atmosphere you will do fine. It is one of the best experiences I have ever had.

[Birdwatcher1, RN]

Is there a way to find out if any other new nurses work there? Support within the recent grad population can be very helpful on a stressful unit, especially after a difficult event. If you are the only new grad, some 'old' nurses may 'eat you alive,' sometimes in a rather insidious manner which can damage your confidence. Helps to have emotional backup when that happens.

4ZBirds

[Town & Country]

I don't think it is EVER a good idea for a new nurse to go straight into critical care.

I'm sure there are people here who have done it successfully, but in my opinion, it is very risky, unwise, and additional stress/responsibility that you do not need when you are a new nurse.

[IdahoNurse]

I think that it depends on the size of the ICU and what kind of cases they have. With a class, you might be successful in a smaller ICU, but yes, in a larger hospital they will eat you alive. The more experienced nurses don't like newbies on their block that don't know as much as they do. I've been a nurse for almost 15 years now and it scares me to go to the bigger hopsital ICUs. Too much technology, and you really have to use your critical thinking skills.

just my $0.02

[WVUturtle514]

I was hired as a new grad (along with three other new grads) directly into a CVICU/CCU at a large teaching hospital. I do not know of any hospital that is going to throw you into taking care of critical patients without the proper teaching. I started in the ICU not knowing a thing, but we had a very intense orientation that included classroom time as well as six-months with a one-on-one preceptor. The nurses in my unit were thrilled to have new graduates because they loved to teach us and they claimed that "they didn't have to break us of any old habits." Yes, it was stressful and at times it was overwhelming, but we all learned very quickly and by the end of our six month orientation we were all admitting fresh post-op hearts on our own. I do not think that a new grad going into critical care is risky or unwise as long as the appropriate teaching/orientation is in place. If critical care is something you really want to do I say go for it! You'll learn more in your first few months than the whole entire time you were in nursing school.