Hi :typing I have been reading on this forum for a year or so, have rarely posted but have been following this thread. I am a 2nd yr. nursing student graduating in June '07. I am considering going to an ICU, but a smaller one with a very extensive orientation. I'm trying to keep my mind open to doing some med surg first also. Anywho, I saw this quote and thought it was fitting for all of us.
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men to win them.
- -- Emerson
I appreciate all of the honesty on this thread. If I do end up going straight to ICU, I will have a much higher level of empathy for what my preceptors are going through. When I go to interview the unit next week, do you think it would be a good idea to come right out and ask some of the nurses how they feel about the new grads on their unit?
When I go to interview the unit next week, do you think it would be a good idea to come right out and ask some of the nurses how they feel about the new grads on their unit?
I did. The way in which your future manager answers will speak volumes.
What is meant exactly by "interviewing the unit"? It sounds like a great idea and probably is something I should consider doing soon since I graduate in June of 2007 . . . does one simply call up the Nurse Manager and say that you want to check the place out?
I call it "interviewing the unit" because it really is a two way street, right? You want to be sure you find the right fit...the type/length of orientation you need, etc. I emailed a clinical instructor that I'd had my second med-surg rotation. She works at the hospital I was interested in. I explained that I was interested in talking to someone about working in either the med/surg unit or ICU, and asked if I might use her as a reference. She answered that yes, I could use her as a reference and she told me to contact so-and-so in HR, and gave me the names of the unit directors. I called HR and said I was interested in the ICU, and they were happy to talk to me and set up an meeting...she said to basically be prepared for an interview, and that I could probably also shadow in the ICU afterwards! She also said they would explain to me about their signing bonus! I am so excited!! I know June's a ways off, but I have a few hospitals to consider and want to compare/contrast.
i was threathening to leave, when my NUM said that i was part of his plan to get younger nurses into ccu. i have always made an effort to suck all the knowledge out of the senior staff...
I would be terrified if a manager told me something like that, no matter if I were new to the unit or a senior staffer.
And, I repeat, experienced nurses are not computer programs; you don't just "download" information from us. We are people too.
I, like many other people, are angered by reading many of these posts. I am a new grad in a CVICU (just 4 months in.. after a 3 month orientation period). I started on the unit at the same time as "more experienced" nurses coming from other units such as telemetry or medsurg and I've heard from RNs on my unit that new grads tend to have better critical thinking skills and a better willingness to learn than nurses who feel they already have the nursing skills to work in a busy CVICU.
And, on top of that, the new grads (and other nurses new to the unit) take the lowest acuity patients on the unit. This leaves our experienced CVICU RNs to take the fresh hearts and work on a 1-1 case, which every single CVICU nurse should enjoy. That's why we're here. So, any of the experienced nurses on other units (from the oh-so-many negative posts) who are complaining because the new grads are taking the "easy" cases should really reevaluate where you are working. If you WANT the easy cases, you should go back to a medsurg unit where your patients aren't so critical.
I love my experience and even though it's hard a lot of the time, it's so worth it. I cant imagine starting anywhere else when this is what I love doing!
I was one of those new grads who went straight to ICU at a hospital with an internship program, with specific critical care classesfor all new grads working in the ICUor the CCU. I was on orientation for over 4 months longer than the other new grads who had worked there as ICU TECHs. Though I was never given a "lighter" assignment because I was a new grad. I still had to deal with the attitude of the doctors and residents esp the interns who started a month after me and acted like they new everything. I was the first out of my group to do charge, take a fresh open heart, ( it was a trauma/surgical/open heart unit). I had more problems when I moved to another city and went to a CVICU where my preceptor wrote me up because according to her I didnt bath my patient in her words I didnt get all that betadine off the guys chest who had only been out of surgery for less than 6 hours. I felt like a new grad and needless to say I left that hospital after 6 months. I precept all our new employees to our ICU most have no experience. I dont give them light assignment. They will not and cant learn to priorize and gain cirtical thinking skills if they are babied along. They may get one heavy pt and one that should transfer out. But after the first day, they do it all..charting, medications and I assist where needed.
There is of course always another side of the coin!
I had been nursing for 10 years on the floor before entering CCU specialty, and still coped flack from my collegues.
They could not understand why I would suddenly decide to "be a cardiac nurse" and seemed quite put out by this.
I think it makes sence to have a change after many years! I also never profess to knowing everything there is to know, I study hard at my Grad dip (Cardiac) and Im not afraid to discuss or question any thing I dont understand.
But what I do resent a little is being treated like I know nothing! I was once asked by a much younger RN if I was comfortable to administer IV Digoxin- I have probably given more IV Digoxin than she has in her whole carreer, having come from a major trauma hospital in Adelaide where IV Digoxin was given routinely on our medical unit!
Its all about respect for others in the end. I aknowledge that others may be better at some things than I am, but I also know my own strengths and I dont critices others for their knowledge deficits- I sieze the opportunity to educate and I work hard on my own deficits and never be afraid to ask questions
Ultimately we do all have the same goal; safe and high standard nursing care for our patients. And surely a team effort benifits all!
Be confident and open to ask questions, you never know there may come a time that you have the answer for your work collegue some day. It is all dependant on the many and varied experiences we all have.
Stay happy and work hard and you will be fine.:welcome: to Corinary Care Nursing you will love it!
wish2bRN
13 Posts
Hi :typing I have been reading on this forum for a year or so, have rarely posted but have been following this thread. I am a 2nd yr. nursing student graduating in June '07. I am considering going to an ICU, but a smaller one with a very extensive orientation. I'm trying to keep my mind open to doing some med surg first also. Anywho, I saw this quote and thought it was fitting for all of us.
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men to win them.
- -- Emerson
I appreciate all of the honesty on this thread. If I do end up going straight to ICU, I will have a much higher level of empathy for what my preceptors are going through. When I go to interview the unit next week, do you think it would be a good idea to come right out and ask some of the nurses how they feel about the new grads on their unit?