I want to find a long ICU internship, but...

SLH16 · Oct 31, 2011

anyone? has anyone here had or heard of long orientations in critical care for new ADN graduates?

MsStephh_RN · Nov 3, 2011

I am interested to know as well. I am currently in an ADN program and some of the New Grad programs I really liked required a BSN :-(

babyNP., APRN · Nov 12, 2011

Honestly, I think it's pretty unrealistic in this economy, as employers have a large share of applications and of course, they're going to pick BSNs over ADNs.

I'm not saying that an ADN new grad is less than a BSN new grad, but BSN grads have a wider range of experiences and very attractive for Magnet designation, which is the big gun many hospitals are hoping for.

However, once you can get a year or two in floor nursing, it should be easier to get into ICU with an ADN and hopefully you'll have your BSN by then anyway.

SLH16 · Nov 14, 2011

I can find an ICU job with a 3-4 month orientation, but I wonder if this is long enough to feel comfortable in ICU.

If I worked medsurg first, then transferred to ICU with hardly any orientation at all, if any...this would be even worse, right? Medsurg and ICU are so different.

I guess I don't need a 12+ month internship/residency anyways.

Billingsgate · Nov 19, 2011

Just wanted to let you know it is possible to get into a fellowship with an adn as I was just accepted into a 6 month one. Just do your research and don't give up :)

cchristensen · Nov 20, 2011

The University Of Utah offers a Critical Care Internship. It accepts seasoned nurses that are looking for a change, and new graduates. You do not have to have your bachelors degree. However it is preferred, and if you are interested in finishing your bachelors you can finish it as you're working. The internship is a paid 5 month program that lets you orient through 5 ICU's (surgical, medical, neuro, burn, and a specialized cancer) and a rotation in the ED. During this time you are matched up with "preceptors" which are experienced ICU nurses. At the end of the internship you then are hired into one of the ICU units. And you have about a months orientation with that unit. You do have a two year time commitment to pay back to the hospital. It was a great way to get into ICU nursing for me. I went in as a new grad and it was so nice to have so much support and training. It was also nice to get to work in all of the ICU's to know which area fit best with your personality. Here is a link if you're interested.

http://healthcare.utah.edu/careers/nursing_resources/educational_opportunities/rn_internships/internships_criticalcare.html

PMFB-RN, RN · Nov 20, 2011

If you don't work for the year or two it will take you to complete a RN to BSN program you still won't be seen as a new grad.

One hospital I work for has a 9 month Critical Care nurse residency program for new grads going into SICU, MICU, PICU, NICU, PACU, & ER. They only hire ADNs for the SICU and there is no preference for the other units. Strong preference is given to those with close ties to the local community and positions are VERY competive. Most of the new hires the last couple years are people who already worked for the hospital as CNAs or HUCs.

As to weather 3-4 month orientation is enough, well it might well be. Not all ICUs are equal. What is an ICU patient in one hospital may well be a med-surg patient in another.

SLH16 · Nov 20, 2011

thanks so much for the info so far! I would prefer a place near South Carolina, but please post anymore that you know of. Others may be wanting to know too.

PMFB-RN, RN · Nov 20, 2011

thanks so much for the info so far! I would prefer a place near South Carolina, but please post anymore that you know of. Others may be wanting to know too.

Read this thread:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/all-nurse-residency-419156.html

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 20, 2011

it seems they all require you to have a bsn. i am currently in an adn program. i have all the general eds for a bsn, just not those few extra classes required for a bsn.
i really want to go into icu, and i don't want to go into medsurg. i feel i will learn much better in a great and long (6months+) icu internship straight out of school, than to go to medsurg for a year, then get thrown into icu with possibly only a few weeks of orientation or whatever. as i've heard medsurg and icu nursing can be so, so different. i've also heard that many prefer to orient new grads than those with medsurg experience because of "bad" habits they learned in medsurg.
so..my question is, when i finish my adn, should i just not work as an rn while getting my bsn? i see all of these internships are only for new grads.
i don't believe it is fair or smart that all of these internships accept only bsn grads, when being a bsn grad is not a determining factor of how good of a nurse you will be compared to an adn grad. it depends on the person.
thanks!

orientation in my icu is approximately 6 months for new grads and a bit less for experienced rns with no icu experience. we do hire adns -- we hired any qualified candidate we can get. med surg is quite different from icu, but it gives you good basic nursing skills that will serve you well through the rest of your career. and having experience -- any kind of experience -- makes icu orientation ever so much less stressful. it also makes you a better icu nurse and less apt to burn out.

my hospital does offer "internships" for new grads only. the only thing different that new grads get is a year of special classes geared toward reality shock -- sort of like counseling. but all new grads at my institution get that. not just icu.

SLH16 · Nov 21, 2011

glad to know there are are 6 month ICU orientations out there for new grads!

thanks for the responses!