Developing knowledge

[Teaik01]

I have been a nurse for a year now and started right out from undergraduate into CICU. I am trying to develope my knowledge and grow my critical thinking skills. What recommendations/ resources do you prefer and how did you grow your knowledge base?

[ptier_MNMurse, BSN, RN]

Have you considered taking some additional education? I am assuming you have gone through an on-boarding process and taken the ECCO modules. Have you taken you ACLS, PALS, TNCC, CCRN? Nicole Kupchik and Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio both are educators for the the CCRN and have a lot of material to study. Look them up online. Get in touch with your local AACN chapter, there are often educational opportunities through them. NTI (National Teaching Institute) is put on by AACN and is coming up in May and is in Indianapolis. It is a national symposium for critical care nurses covering all aspects of critical care.

Ask around the unit you work on if there are symposiums or in-house education sessions. You may also ask your manager and/or nurse educator for opportunities to learn/develop. See if there are committees or councils you can get on at work.

Also, check to see if your work gives you education reimbursement, as you may be able to get some of these sessions covered by education dollars.

You seem to be asking the right questions for the time you are at in your career! Keep it up!

[CCU BSN RN]

I picked up a copy of Marino's ICU book, and Cardiac Surgery Essentials. Also a CCRN review book if you don't have that. But I learn best by reading, so...know your style. We don't all read textbooks for fun, and that's okay.

Also, ask 'why?' At work if you don't understand why we're treating a patient in a specific way/with a specific med. If you word it right, most attendings are happy to teach and most residents are happy to say some of the most ridiculously incorrect things, and laughter is good for the soul.