Student seeking ICU advice

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

I'm a BSN student in my third semester. I'm under contract with a local hospital to work for them for a period of time after I graduate. This week, they're holding an open house/recruitment get-together. I really want to work in the ICU as a new grad, but I'm not sure what to say or ask to be memorable to the ICU manager. I know all the usual things..dress professionally, firm handshake, speak clearly, smile..but is there anything else I should know? Is it difficult (or even advisable) for a new grad to get into ICU? This particular hospital hires a lot of new grads, so I would expect a good new grad training program. I appreciate any feedback you have (and also appreciate those of you who read this far!) :loveya:

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Do you know if this particular hospital offers a new grad internship in the ICU? Can't hurt to ask the manager of the unit if they hire new grads into the ICU there. We have one ICU at my hospital that won't hire new grads to the unit. All others hire new grads. So it depends. I personally think you should work med surg for a year to get comfortable with basic nursing skills then move on to ICU, but that is just me. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Pediatric critical care.

Hi, good luck. I am a new grad, and I started out in PICU and it was a very good fit for me. I am learning everything quickly and I get very good feedback from my co-workers and preceptors. I don't agree with the "you should do med-surg first" and if you search the ICU threads, you will see that most preceptors prefer to orient a new grad rather than breaking an experienced nurse out of their habits. I was told by one of my preceptors that it makes no sense to do med-surg first because that is just task focused and they don't have strong assessment skills. I think people who start out in med-surg then transition to ICU will say start out in med-surg and those who start out in ICU as new grads will say forget the med-surg. You know what type of person you are and what you can and cannot handle.

To answer your question, just be yourself, have valid reasons for wanting to go to the ICU if asked, and just be confident in what you know. Inquire about new grad programs, and the length of orientation for new grads entering the ICU. I absolutely love the ICU setting. I did my externship on a med-surg unit and I learned how to hang and give meds and basically that was it, and I worked in an ICU as a tech and I learned a lot just from that and having nurses explaining stuff to me. I say follow your heart. Once again, good luck

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.
... I was told by one of my preceptors that it makes no sense to do med-surg first because that is just task focused and they don't have strong assessment skills. ...

Oh, good. Another thread where we contribute to the antagonism among different types of nurses, rather than recognize the unique skills of each specialty.

I also beg to differ regarding my assessment skills, and the kind of nursing I do on my floor.

I did my externship on a med-surg unit and I learned how to hang and give meds and basically that was it, and I worked in an ICU as a tech and I learned a lot just from that and having nurses explaining stuff to me.

Right, you worked one externship in med-surg and learned all there is to learn there. :rolleyes:

A lot of what you wrote here is really insulting in the way it minimizes the skills and expertise of a med-surg nurse. I don't just "hang and give meds" all day, if you had spent more than just an externship there, you might know that already.

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Specializes in Pediatric critical care.
Oh, good. Another thread where we contribute to the antagonism among different types of nurses, rather than recognize the unique skills of each specialty.

I also beg to differ regarding my assessment skills, and the kind of nursing I do on my floor.

Right, you worked one externship in med-surg and learned all there is to learn there. :rolleyes:

A lot of what you wrote here is really insulting in the way it minimizes the skills and expertise of a med-surg nurse. I don't just "hang and give meds" all day, if you had spent more than just an externship there, you might know that already.

Well if you took it like that I'm sorry, and I really wasn't trying to make it like that, and I have actually spent a lot of time (besides my externship) in med-surg and I know people who work in med-surg and hate it. However, I was just saying that med-surg isn't for me and I was telling the OP that if she wants to do ICU than she should, just like the ICU setting may not be one in which a med-surg nurse would enjoy. Again, I really am sorry if my comments seemed offensive.

And I was just sharing my experiences

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
Well if you took it like that I'm sorry, and I really wasn't trying to make it like that, and I have actually spent a lot of time (besides my externship) in med-surg and I know people who work in med-surg and hate it. However, I was just saying that med-surg isn't for me and I was telling the OP that if she wants to do ICU than she should, just like the ICU setting may not be one in which a med-surg nurse would enjoy. Again, I really am sorry if my comments seemed offensive.

And I was just sharing my experiences

NursingAgainstdaOdds wasn't the only one irritated by your previous comments.I'm sorry but I think a lot of med/surg nurses who have way more experience than you would be very offended by what you wrote. One specialty isn't better over another. It just depends on the individual nurse's preference.

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Specializes in Pediatric critical care.
NursingAgainstdaOdds wasn't the only one irritated by your previous comments.I'm sorry but I think a lot of med/surg nurses who have way more experience than you would be very offended by what you wrote. One specialty isn't better over another. It just depends on the individual nurse's preference.

Okay well when I put that a med-surg nurse may not like the ICU setting and vice versa I was saying that it is a person's preference. Anyway, I already apologized and said I wasn't trying to offend anyone and I wont apologize again.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

Seeing as though the first apology started off with "Well if you took it like that", I think a second won't be necessary, but thanks.

Also, you did not simply "share your experiences". You flat-out stated "they" (med-surg nurses) don't have strong assessment skills, are task-oriented, and implied we do nothing but "hang IVs and give meds". It was pointed-out to you that this is an incredibly degrading, insulting way to describe med-surg nurses, and you responded by placing the onus on me to not "take it like that". Oh, no ya don't - that's yours to deal with, not mine.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
Seeing as though the first apology started off with "Well if you took it like that", I think a second won't be necessary, but thanks.

Also, you did not simply "share your experiences". You flat-out stated "they" (med-surg nurses) don't have strong assessment skills, are task-oriented, and implied we do nothing but "hang IVs and give meds". It was pointed-out to you that this is an incredibly degrading, insulting way to describe med-surg nurses, and you responded by placing the onus on me to not "take it like that". Oh, no ya don't - that's yours to deal with, not mine.

Nevermind.

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Specializes in Pediatric critical care.
Seeing as though the first apology started off with "Well if you took it like that", I think a second won't be necessary, but thanks.

Also, you did not simply "share your experiences". You flat-out stated "they" (med-surg nurses) don't have strong assessment skills, are task-oriented, and implied we do nothing but "hang IVs and give meds". It was pointed-out to you that this is an incredibly degrading, insulting way to describe med-surg nurses, and you responded by placing the onus on me to not "take it like that". Oh, no ya don't - that's yours to deal with, not mine.

Wow, if you really took it like that I am truly sorry. I would never intentionally degrade any nurse, and I wasn't trying to imply that at all. I was just saying what I got from my experience and the experiences of other people that I know who are med-surg nurses, but I truly apologize if you or anyone else felt as if I tried to degrade med-surg nurses. That is really not how I meant any of what I said. And I wasn't trying to turn anything on anyone.

And when I put "they don't have strong assessment skills" I was repeating something that was told to me by my preceptor. I wasn't saying that is what I observed.

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MegRN2B, I disagree with going to med surg for a year if what you want to do is ICU. Working in the unit has many differences ( as well as many similarities) from the med surg floor, and you will learn the skills you need as an ICU nurse in the unit. You will still learn and do the same skills you would do on the med surg floor in the icu. You will also learn many things that are specific to the ICU setting. If you feel you can handle it and they offer a good orientation program go for it!!!!! Good Luck!!! :nurse:

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Specializes in neuro, critical care, open heart..
Hi, good luck. I am a new grad, and I started out in PICU and it was a very good fit for me. I am learning everything quickly and I get very good feedback from my co-workers and preceptors. I don't agree with the "you should do med-surg first" and if you search the ICU threads, you will see that most preceptors prefer to orient a new grad rather than breaking an experienced nurse out of their habits. I was told by one of my preceptors that it makes no sense to do med-surg first because that is just task focused and they don't have strong assessment skills. I think people who start out in med-surg then transition to ICU will say start out in med-surg and those who start out in ICU as new grads will say forget the med-surg. You know what type of person you are and what you can and cannot handle.

To answer your question, just be yourself, have valid reasons for wanting to go to the ICU if asked, and just be confident in what you know. Inquire about new grad programs, and the length of orientation for new grads entering the ICU. I absolutely love the ICU setting. I did my externship on a med-surg unit and I learned how to hang and give meds and basically that was it, and I worked in an ICU as a tech and I learned a lot just from that and having nurses explaining stuff to me. I say follow your heart. Once again, good luck

I think if you go back and re-read NurseLay's post, she stated "her preceptor" said that med-surg nurses don't have strong assessment skills. The comment about "hang and give meds" could have been taken two ways. I can see where med-surg nurses take it as "that's all they do", but on the other hand, it can be taken as that was all she learned to do on med-surg. I personally think that new grads should start in med-surg first, but that's my opinion, and we all know what opinions are like!!:chuckle I myself started in med-surg and then went to ICU and I think being on med-surg first has helped me tremendously in Critical Care.:twocents:

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