Hi fellow nurses,
Do any of you have any tips on working in an ICU setting with not a lot of experience?
Here's my story,
I completed my preceptorship in the ICU and took a job offer as a charge nurse in an intermediate care unit. I had connections with the director of nursing and therefore started working there for 6 months. I quit for many reasons with one of them being too much to handle (4 patients total care with and additional patient every now and then along with being a charge nurse). It was in my best interest to leave before I would make a big mistake with one of my patients one day.
I took a job as a research nurse and have been working there for 6 months but to my dissatisfaction, I think I miss the hospital setting and more so, taking care of critically ill patients. I consider myself an adrenaline junky where I strive in an intense and intellectually challenging environment. I understand that most people think it's better to gain at least 1 year of experience in the floors but I'm looking to pass that, and have a chance at an ICU setting.
Overall, do you guys have any tips or know of any hospital where they would consider hiring an inexperienced nurse for their ICU? Fellowships would be ideal since I would get training. Learning on the job would be a challenge, but I'm positive I could still become a well rounded ICU nurse. I'm looking to find that career anywhere here in the U.S as I'm also looking to move out of state.
Any tips fellow nurses?