How do I get into the ICU?

hrtprncss · Sep 8, 2005

Frankly speaking...Not much,even wheny they say they ''prefer'' 1 year of telemetry or floor experience, most of your training would be when you're in. New grads are hired in the ICU now all the time. No special requirements needed before you get in. ACLS can be done within six months of your start. They will enroll you in an EKG class and critical care classes. Basically what you need is self determination to continue learning.

intothemoon · Sep 8, 2005

Thank you greatly for the info!

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Sep 9, 2005

I am a Senior nursing student (ADN program) and have my heart set on the ICU. What can I do to enhance my chance of being hired into an ICU unit?

My school had a critical care elective which I took. However, as the previous poster said, if you go in as a new grad,they will send you to EKG and probablly critical care class.

oldiebutgoodie

icyounurse, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2005

I am a Senior nursing student (ADN program) and have my heart set on the ICU. What can I do to enhance my chance of being hired into an ICU unit?

um, well applying will enhance your chances :] trust me its not hard to get hired in the icu straight out of school, i did. the only place some new grads in my area have a hard time getting hired right outta school is labor and delivery. if you do a preceptorship, make sure you do it in icu. our icu hires alot of its new grads from school who precepted in our unit.

intothemoon · Sep 13, 2005

um, well applying will enhance your chances :] trust me its not hard to get hired in the icu straight out of school, i did. the only place some new grads in my area have a hard time getting hired right outta school is labor and delivery. if you do a preceptorship, make sure you do it in icu. our icu hires alot of its new grads from school who precepted in our unit.

The hospitals that I want to work at do not have us do preceptorships there. (We're a small community college and do all our clinicals at the local community hospital).

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2005

Don't wait until the day you graduate to apply. Apply one or two months before graduation. Apply to one of the hospitals you did clinicals in. Let your instructors know that you will be applying for ICU. You will need a recommendation from them so keep in their good graces. Even without a preceptorship you can become acclimated quite comfortably in an ICU. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that your nursing education is over when you get your diploma. One of the things interviewers will be assessing about you is your attitude toward learning new things. You will have to learn a lot of new things in ICU. They invest a lot of time and money in the training of a new graduate hiree so make sure you let them see that you are going to be worth every penny to them. Have a positive attitude and by all means let the interviewer know how much you want to work in ICU. Your enthusiasm does not go unnoticed.

oldnurse newnurse · Sep 18, 2005

I am a Senior nursing student (ADN program) and have my heart set on the ICU. What can I do to enhance my chance of being hired into an ICU unit?

Iam also a senior graduating 12/18/05 and let me know how it goes because I want to dwork in ICU when I graduate too. Oh and congratulations on your accomplishment! :saint:

ptadvocate81 · Sep 18, 2005

I am a student and I am a tech in SICU and that is one way to get your foot in the door, but another way is to do your time on a Med-Surg floor (usually one year). Where I work, they are so short staffed that they are willing to hire new grads and we generally get 15-20 each year between the three units (SICU, CCU, MICU). Best wishes!

rach_nc_03 · Sep 19, 2005

I'm a new grad (may 2005) working in a PICU. i knew i wanted to do intensive care or emergency room since before i started school, so i did a few things:

1- got my emt certification

2- worked in an adult icu my last year of school

3- shadowed in the icu's i was interested in

4- applied the *instant* they would let me (first week of january, i believe)

different people have different opinions about going straight into the icu. i think you have to make the decision for yourself, based on your own circumstances. i, too, did an adn program in a rural area. if there's one nearby, i'd suggest getting a nursing assistant job- or at least some shadow days- at a larger hospital.

good luck!

TEXAS_BSN_RN · Aug 4, 2008

I had no problem getting in ICU. February 2008. I graduated in May 2008. I had the job before I graduated so no big deal to get employment here.

TEXAS_BSN_RN · Aug 4, 2008

I graduated this may. I was hired in february. So no employment getting employment in ICU fresh out of school. I had the sigma theta tau thing, BSN, and a yr of extern experience. You don't even have to have that much. Just a pulse.