ICU difficulty

Nurses General Nursing

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Is it difficult to get a job in the ICU/ER with an ADN? I plan on finishing the ADN and work simultaneously in ICU while earning a BSN. Is it any more difficult to find a job in ICU for ADN than BSN?

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

I can only speak for what I've seen,..I'm in the midwest,..an RN is an RN,...many RN's like bedside nursing and have no desire to move away from direct pt care,..they feel no need or desire to get their BSN,...no one cares,.the only reason I have a BSN is because I had two BS degrees before I started nursing school and it didn't take me much longer to get my BSN (like 3 courses),..my hospital hires new grad ADN RN's for critical care units and ED,.you shouldn't have a problem.

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In alot of facilities degree doesn't matter but experience does. I think in most units it is a requirement to have at least one year of floor experience before coming into ICU . Depending on how severe the need there are probably some though that would be glad to take a new grad.

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Best suggestion that I can give you is to try to get an externship while you are finishing your program, that will give you a foot in the door.

Years ago you needed to have a year of experience to work in the ICU, but that definitely is not the case now. Make sure that you look for a program that has an excellent new grad orientation. That is the most important single piece of advice that I can give to you.

Best of luck to you.

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ADN versus BSN does not matter, the RN license does.

Tazzi......ADN and an ER nurse

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Specializes in Float.

in my area they have new grad internships in the ICU and it's pretty easy to get a position in the ICU, I do think some of the hospitals prefer you to have interned there first..but we have a big shortage in my area and it's pretty easy to get in where you want.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi,

You should not have a problem. I am going to be graduating from an ADN program in May and already accepted a job in an E.D. A few of my classmates have jobs in ICUs as well...

Sweetooth

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What Machines do you use in your icu

Sorry posted this in the wrong area could not send from new mesage.

Could you anyone please tell me the hemofiltration machines used in your icu. Also the functions available on them which make them unique. We use the Prisma but i think there is more advanced ones out there.

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I live in Ohio , not difficult here. I've found they base the job qualification on experience rather than degree. I have worked ICU , ER, OHRU for almost 30 years. I've found it's the person who makes the good nurse not the degree. I've seen excellent BSN, ADN and Diploma. I've also seen LPN's that can work circles around RN's and I remember when we had to dismiss a MSN because she was lost when it came to thinking on her feet in ICU. So, in my opinion , I would have second thoughts about working for a facility that looked at degree only, not work hx. Good luck in you job hunt.

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What Machines do you use in your icu

Sorry posted this in the wrong area could not send from new mesage.

Could you anyone please tell me the hemofiltration machines used in your icu. Also the functions available on them which make them unique. We use the Prisma but i think there is more advanced ones out there.

we use prisma also, it's a pain isn't it.

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Specializes in SICU--CRNA 2010.

My hospital has a MICU and a SICU/CVICU. There is an intership in place for new grads. This past year, there were 4 new RN's to MICU and 1 to SICU. ADN or BSN didn't matter, but the BSN nurses get an extra $1/hr. The differential is the only difference.

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Specializes in ICU.
What Machines do you use in your icu

Sorry posted this in the wrong area could not send from new mesage.

Could you anyone please tell me the hemofiltration machines used in your icu. Also the functions available on them which make them unique. We use the Prisma but i think there is more advanced ones out there.

We just "upgraded" to the Fresinius 2008k. It's pretty good, but we had trouble with the company (see my thread in MICU/SICU forum).

And, no, you won't have any trouble getting a job as an ADN in the ICU. Started out as a new grad there, no externship, medium sized hosp.

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