ER to ICU-anyone do it?

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After 8 years I. The ER, I am looking for change. Has anyone gone from ER to ICU and how was the transition?

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Specializes in critical care.

Yes. The rural ER I worked at was more ICU -ish anyway as we shipped everything out. Our ICU was more of a step down.

The ER experience made me great at re-assessments and knowing triage - and also handling several things at the same time.

I am now an ICU nurse practitioner and my ER experience is invaluable when assessing patients on the floor for possible transfer to ICU due to decompensation.

Go for it!

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I didn't personally go from ER to ICU, but I've precepted a bunch of nurses making that switch (which isn't particularly uncommon).

It's a fairly different kind of thinking than what you may be used to in the ER. More thorough and detail-oriented, and also typically with a bit more autonomy and responsibility on the RN (though this can vary hospital to hospital).

I find a kind of split where some ER nurses really embrace the ICU meticulousness and thought process and then thrive with the help of their practiced ability to stay calm in a crisis and assess situations quickly - meanwhile some ER nurses never quite wrap their minds around the ICU thought process, kind of hoping to be something more akin to an ER nurse with only 2 patients, and struggle badly.

Best wishes in your transition if you make it.

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