First day in CCU on Friday.... Scared!!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

Hi all, just a general post here!!

Just a little intro: I'm a new nurse, I've been working on a tele + step-down floor for 1 year. I decided to make the transition to the CCU and just finished my ECCO class today. My first working day with my preceptor is Friday morning bright and early. I'm so nervous!!

I know the first day is just observation and helping out, but I know this is an environment where things can go very bad very quickly and am starting to have doubts (ok, I've been having doubts) in myself on the whole "thinking fast on your feet" thing. Every time I've been in a code situation I've felt my adrenaline kick in so fast my hands were shaking like a leaf!! I guess you could say the ultimate goal that I'm setting for myself is to be calm and in charge and running a code one day. That's when I'll know I've overcome my fears. Not that I think our fear should ever really go away, you know what I mean :wink2:

I guess I just wanted to share:p

Any nurses out there who went into critical care and just went "WHOA! This is not the place for me!" Just curious.... I've always wanted to do critical care so I'm hoping that my passion for it will get me through the tough times :heartbeat

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I am not a nurse yet, start NS in August so I have no advice, but I just wanted to wish you luck. I am sure you will do great. :)

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Specializes in ER/ICU/Flight.

Hey,

I worked my first code in 1992, I did CPR for 45 minutes cause I was afraid someone would ask me to do something else and that I wouldn't know how to do it.

Seems so long ago I don't remember why I felt that way. You'll probably get to the same point too before long. I love critical care nursing and wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

Good luck in the CCU, remember your stuff from ECCO...you'll see it again. Especially the things you thought..."man I doubt I'll ever see this again!!" It'll happen. Take your time, enjoy your orientation, speak up for yourself, pay close attention, remember that lots of people get nervous when someone codes and as a CCU/ICU nurse lots of them look to you as a calming presence and to direct their efforts.

Let us know how it goes.

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