ICU clinical advise

breastfeedingRN · Jan 6, 2005

hi:
i will be in icu clinicals shortly. was wondering what to expect? also, what my co-assign is going to expect of me as a student? i want to learn as much as i can, but i don't want to be a hinderance to him/her either. took a tour of the unit... seems very intimidating.
any advice would greatly be appreciated!
thanx,
cindy :balloons:

hi cindy! it all really depended on the icu nurse i was assigned to. some were more open to letting me do procedures and others weren't. i just followed their lead. icu nurses are usually pretty protective of their patients! i just asked a lot of questions and they were usually happy to explain things to me. i was fine with less hands on because i was a bit intimidated by all the machines.

one nurse i had was amazing and i always told fellow students to try to pair up with him. he would ask me questions, but if i didn't know he would just ask it a different way until i realized i did know. he was awesome. he made what was extremely scary for me an excellent clinical day! he also reminded me that no matter what the machines are doing, there is a person under all those beeps.

good luck to you! arizona has lots of opportunities!

Heartman · Jan 17, 2005

I've been a Critical Care RN for over twenty yearsand I love to have a student to teach.

I like to have someone who is into what we are doing. They are not expected to know everything but I do expect them to try, and be enthusiastic.

I usually knowthe instructor well and will ask for another student if the one I have is not interested in learning.

I have even recrited students to work in our ICU after they graduate and it has worked out well.

As with most things, communication is the key. Let your instuctor know what you want and you are more likely to get it.

Good luck and have fun. :)

Heartman