How long did it take for you to work in the ICU?

[Sassybottom]

I am a new grad and still fairly green but the more I think about my long term goals, the more I see myself working a shift or two in the ICU.

I know I have a long ways to go - everything still makes me nervous and I am unfamiliar with so many things ...

But, just wondering for all the ICU nurses out there, how many years did you work as a nurse before you entered the ICU?

[kessadawn, BSN, RN]

i am a new grad and still fairly green but the more i think about my long term goals, the more i see myself working a shift or two in the icu.

i know i have a long ways to go - everything still makes me nervous and i am unfamiliar with so many things ...

but, just wondering for all the icu nurses out there, how many years did you work as a nurse before you entered the icu?

i worked in the float pool for about 12 months first, then went to picu. our icus do hire new grads, though. it all depends on how indepth the orientation is for your facility. most of our new grads do great with the 6 months they get to orient, a few occasionally need to go to the general floors for some time to build on their basic nursing skills, but after a while they reapply to icu.

[Christie RN2006]

I went straight into the ICU after I graduated.

[AF nurse2b guy]

Christie,

Where are you from to get in ICU so soon? My long term goal is to be a CRNA and i know you need a year in ICU.

[bubbly]

I went straight into the ICU after I graduated too. Most of the larger teaching hospitals have new grad internships in the ICU available. :)

[AF nurse2b guy]

Has anyone thought or looked into being a CRNA?

[RNperdiem, RN]

I worked for one year in med-surg before starting in ICU.

[AliRae]

Straight into the PICU for me! (with a 5 month orientation and tech experience on the floor)

[VinoLover2030]

Went right in after graduation. Worked as a LPN for 3 years. Im thinking about CRNA school for later. Im thinking of staying here for a year and then moving to a bigger Hospital

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

I went straight to intensive care. I work at a regional NICU, we are a teaching hospital. My NM prefers to hire new grads, she feels we are blank slates.

[K98]

I left nursing school for a position in a 16 bed CTICU in a 750+ bed teaching hospital. Twelve week orientation and I'm on my own. I never got scared, but I did get "concerned" a few times. Now that I've been there for sixteen months, I feel relatively comfortable.

[algRN]

I worked 2.5 years on a med surg floor to get my feet wet, then on to a neuro/ent/transplant ICU. I hope to someday become a CRNA, but we'll see. I still need time in the ICU to feel comfortable.