Do I transfer?

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I've been an RN for exactly 18 months. I started on a cardiac step down and have been in ER for last 9 months. It's a pretty small hospital, but pet of a larger system. Anyhow, I am tired of dealing with petty nonsense. Nit picky things that I'm told larger hospitals don't have time for. I am considering applying for an ICU position in the main teaching hospital. Two reasons: 1, critical care is interesting to me 2, I am going to school in the fall for my acute care NP and I think this would help me in my education. I am looking for advice from people who have more wisdom and experience than me. Also, I'm not sure which ICU to focus on. SICU, MICU, CICU, or trauma ICU. I am TNCC certified from previous ER training.

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Specializes in ICU.

You'll learn a lot in any ICU, but you'll have the most generalized knowledge base from MICU, where you're managing ten million chronic conditions on top of ICU level problems. I think MICU would help the most with NP school, especially since you have previous cards and emergency/trauma experience.

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You'll learn a lot in any ICU, but you'll have the most generalized knowledge base from MICU, where you're managing ten million chronic conditions on top of ICU level problems. I think MICU would help the most with NP school, especially since you have previous cards and emergency/trauma experience.

I was thinking the same thing myself. I also think, and I may be wrong, it would be better preparation to work in a SICU, etc than just jumping into one of those units. There is also a critical care transport position I'm thinking about.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Transplant ICU, Critical Care.

Do it!!!!! You have more than enough experience from the CVT stepdown arena and the ED arena to transition well into The Units. I have a feeling that you will do well because A) You are interested in the Critical Care world B) You have a game plan and a goal C) You are hungry to learn more.

I work in a Cardiac/Transplant ICU in a Top 10 hospital and am very biased :whistling: but I would say try to get any Cardiac Surgery ICU. Especial if you are planning to go the Acute Care NP route because you will learn SOOOOO much in a very short amount of time. The sickest patient that I have ever taken was a Heart Transplant who just did not do well after surgery and was on VA ECMO, Right sided Tandem for a profoundly hypokinetic right heart, IABP, CVVH, Nitric, Swanned, Pressored up, vented and the most intense of it all tube feeds :roflmao:.

Whatever you decide to do, going into any of The Units will be a great step to achieving the goals that you have listed above.

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Do it!!!!! You have more than enough experience from the CVT stepdown arena and the ED arena to transition well into The Units. I have a feeling that you will do well because A) You are interested in the Critical Care world B) You have a game plan and a goal C) You are hungry to learn more.

I work in a Cardiac/Transplant ICU in a Top 10 hospital and am very biased :whistling: but I would say try to get any Cardiac Surgery ICU. Especial if you are planning to go the Acute Care NP route because you will learn SOOOOO much in a very short amount of time. The sickest patient that I have ever taken was a Heart Transplant who just did not do well after surgery and was on VA ECMO, Right sided Tandem for a profoundly hypokinetic right heart, IABP, CVVH, Nitric, Swanned, Pressored up, vented and the most intense of it all tube feeds :roflmao:.

Whatever you decide to do, going into any of The Units will be a great step to achieving the goals that you have listed above.

Thank you. I have applied. Just waiting now.

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I have an interview at an SICU of a 1,000 bed hospital. I'm a bit nervous d/t the acuity of the patients. Heart transplants, multiple traumas, etc.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I have an interview at an SICU of a 1,000 bed hospital. I'm a bit nervous d/t the acuity of the patients. Heart transplants, multiple traumas, etc.

Good luck!! :)

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Good luck!! :)

I need it. These are complex cases. I'd feel more comfortable in the MICU, but I will just have to work harder to succeed.

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