For ICU nurses

[whoaitschrista]

I have been a nurse for 4 years. I worked my first year on a PCU floor. I've worked the past three years at an ambulatory surgery center in pre-op/pacu. I might have to go back to the hospital due to low pt census. Most of the positions available now are in ICU. I've been thinking about trying to go for it but I'm just not sure. I believe I'm smart enough but I just don't have the confidence. I am one of those nurses that has to double, even triple check things and I am very efficient. I just worry about not getting the education and training I need if I go into a critical care unit. My question is, did any of you feel this way before going into ICU? and has it become more easier or comfortable for you as you've learned?

[MikePLSDCA]

I went straight into the ICU as a new grad--and the hospital didn't have any training program (not a very good hospital, but jobs were scarce). I simply got 12 weeks with a preceptor and then was on my own. It took a lot of self study, and asking questions on my part. When I went for my interview before I graduated I thought I was interviewing for Telemetry, but the Director thought I would do well in the ICU. It was tough, but totally doable. I've been told it takes a year or two to become comfortable in the ICU. Just don't hesitate to ask questions and you'll be fine!

[dcarriv]

it just takes some experience and critical care classes. find the right preceptor and you will have it made. it will also help a lot if you can find an icu where everyone works together, hell thats good for any unit. it will take some time before you are comfortable with anything that comes in the door. i had doubts too and made it through when i didnt think i had enough experience. then i took a job where i mostly deal with codes or people having trouble and again i didnt know if i had enough training, but in both did just fine. just ask questions and learn.

[AshleeRN84]

I started off in ICU. You wont get very high acuity patients in the beginning if you have good management. If you feel a patient is too sick for you, request that you not take that patient. It is your license. It takes time to learn how to care for such sick people but with everyday I find I get more and more comfortable with my job. I have been a nurse a little less than a year with all of that being in ICU with an ER job on the side and I am glad I started in ICU. It hasn't always been easy but it is a great place to learn. Having only 2 patients is AWESOME by the way...but don't let that make you think it isn't busy. They are sick sick sick, so there is a lot to do but it is nice that they are right in front of you and not down the hall. Good luck...

[Hoozdo, ADN]

I started off in ICU. You wont get very high acuity patients in the beginning if you have good management. If you feel a patient is too sick for you, request that you not take that patient. It is your license.

If the pt is not high acuity, then why are they taking up an ICU bed?

I think it is a good quality that the OP likes to double check herself, but

there often isn't time to TRIPLE check things. Double checking is very

important when running life threatening drips or setting up PCAs.

OP, if you get the job, pick the sickest most complex pts while you are still

in training.

[HollyHobby]

Since you already have 4 years of nursing under your belt, you needn't be afraid of ICU. I started in ICU (very high acuity!) as a new grad. It was a struggle to learn the basics while also learning to care for very sick people, but I managed. You already know the basics.

ICU is, in my biased opinion, the best place to be. On a gen-med floor (where I have to float occasionally) everything is so task-oriented. In other words, on the regular floor, you spend all your time giving meds, doing dressing changes, etc. etc. etc. with a high patient load. You don't have the time or the opportunity to see the whole picture. You race around trying to get those tasks done and chart.

In ICU, you have just a couple of patients, and you are totally involved with them. It's so rewarding! As an ICU nurse, you have the ability to put all the pieces together, to use those critical thinking skills, and make a real difference in your patients' (and families') lives. This is not to disparage those nurses who work on gen-med floors: wow, you people work so hard, and do such a good job, but too often you get no reward from it.

Nurses who move to ICU are often intimidated by the equipment. You have vents and drips and all kinds of stuff that looks scary at first. But instead of being afraid, look at it as a challenge: you are in control of all this cool stuff. And if you don't know what to do, there is always someone there who has the time and desire to help you through it. ICU nurses work as a team. Need help? Don't know? Just ask.

I love ICU and wouldn't want to work anywhere else.