Getting thru the first year of ICU training

cue93 · Aug 9, 2004

Hello everyone! I have been reading this forum for about two years now with the faroff aspirations to one day become a CRNA.
I have just started working (orientating really) in the ICU (two going on three weeks now) and let me tell you--it is SOOOO difficult!
For those of you who can remember starting out in the ICU, tell me that it does get better I was an A student in nursing school but this is a whole different ball game! I feel like a failure for not catching on more quickly.
For those of you just starting nursing school, everyone on this forum always says, take one step at a time! Believe me they are right. As a new grad the ICU is so Challenging!
POKEY

well i started in ICU right out of school as well. while it it hard dotn try to grasp everything right away. it takes time, and you will learn as you go along. i felt the same way and even somedays now i feel like, what am i doing here. hang in there when you go home, open a book. read up on things which you are unsure of from the night before.

sonessrna · Aug 9, 2004

well i started in ICU right out of school as well. while it it hard dotn try to grasp everything right away. it takes time, and you will learn as you go along. i felt the same way and even somedays now i feel like, what am i doing here. hang in there when you go home, open a book. read up on things which you are unsure of from the night before.

I did the post graduation ICU thing too...it's hard...hang in there....You';ll make your goal. Be sure to learn whatever you can. If CRNA is where you're going...good luck!!

Morguein · Aug 9, 2004

Hi Pokey!

It does get better. I promise you. I also went into the ICU right out of school and felt totally out of my league there. I truly felt stupid. I was told it takes about 2 years before you start to feel comfortable in the ICU setting; and they are right. It will be two years for me in the next couple weeks and I am finally starting to feel comfortable with my new skills and knowledge. What I did to survive during my training was to take notes, plan your day out on a piece of paper with the hours and what's to be done during each of those hours (though there will be many a day when your schedule will get thrown off because suddenly you have to take your patient to the OR, or they're crashing...etc..), and read up on your patient's pathophysiology and treatment when you get home. You will do fine. Just know that. What you're feeling is normal. We have all felt what you are feeling right now. Welcome to the ICU. :)

Maria

UCDSICURN · Aug 10, 2004

Like the others have said, we all have gone through the growing pains. I've been an ICU nurse for over two years. For the most part I'm comfortable but I still have those nights that I'm on pins and needles mostly due to a sicky teetering on that fence. Keep your head up, ask questions, and seek learning opportunities whenever you can. Did I mention ask questions?

Hope this helps a bit,

Donn C.

pokey sn · Aug 10, 2004

Thank you all so much for helping me put things in perspective! I feel like such a dummy! I feel like I am stuck on stupid and that I will never be able to do this. I was seriously reconsidering my choice. I am so happy to know that I am not the only one who feels this way.

Thanks again for the encouragement!

burtonorrn · Aug 10, 2004

I have been an OR nurse for 4 yrs, and I've never done anything else! I am interviewing for a critical care internship program this month b/c I want to go to CRNA school too! I am soooo scared about going into such acute patient care, but hopefully I'll make it through! Good luck to you.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Aug 10, 2004

I have been in ICU about 17 months now and I love it. I remember when my throat was tight all day from holding back tears . . . I was so scared and the patients (and families) broke my heart. I would never have believed that I'd be as comfortable as I am now. I still get stuff I can't handle alone, and I ask a ton of questions, but I trust myself to know when to seek help. It helps being in a very supportive environment, where my coworkers want to see me succeed.

I still feel pretty stupid sometimes. But then sometimes I feel pretty smart, like in July when the new interns came in. One ordered a PCA for my patient and took me aside to tell me anxiously to keep an eye on his respiratory rate. I wanted to say, what do you think this is, a playground? OF COURSE I'll keep an eye on his resp rate, that's what I'm here for!

I shouldn't make fun of them, they're learning just like me. But it makes me feel better that they're just as green as me.

DC2RN · Aug 10, 2004

I start a new graduate ICU orientation next month. Can anyone recommend a textbook that would be helpfull for a new graduate in the ICU?

nec · Aug 10, 2004

learn everything you can b/c CRNA school will truly be the most difficult thing you ever do good luck and stay focused nec

FNimuaeMae · Aug 11, 2004

Hey GF!

I know entirely what you are going through right now... I'm going through the same. And I feel out of my league even having been an RN for 5 years! I keep asking the people at work at what point they started feeling more comfortable in the ICU, and alot have said a year. I'm willing to stick it out a year in the MICU doing day shift, but I really don't like the day time atmosphere... I miss nites so bad! I know you were worried about working nite shift...

I have felt so stupid there in recent days, and I know I'm not the only one. Keep your chin up! We should start a support group at work to get through our probationary period!!

Missy:nurse:

pokey sn · Aug 11, 2004

Missy, night shift is slow paced but they are always periods every night where we are dealing with some mini crisis. It's really hard for me to get adjusted to this sleep wise which is adding stress on top of an already stressful situation.

Yeah, I second the idea of starting a support group for new ICU nurses!

Pokey