ICU Experience

I got hired in an ICU as a brand spanking new grad. I work in Tulsa,OK and pretty much all the hospitals here will hire newbe's into their ICU's. EVery hospital is different as far as their new grad training and orientation. THIS ORIENTATION TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL TRAINING. So you don't want to rush it.

I think the issue seems to be dependent on location and nursing culture (and supply & demand). I've noticed some areas tend to be more friendly to new grads in the ICU than others. Also, some hospitals see so much turnover in their ICU staff (who move on to grad school) that their only option is to hire new grads. Many hospitals who hire new grads will require a 2-year committment, so consider this when thinking you're going to get into grad school "as quickly as possible."

You should also note that although a hospital may hire new grads in principle, they likely also turn down many new grads. You need to get ICU experience while you're in school (and have a glowing recommendation from this preceptor/instructor) if you really want to get into the ICU after school.

Please note that just because you "want" to be a new grad ICU nurse, and just because you "want" to apply to anesthesia school ASAP, doesn't mean you should take such actions. Become an ICU nurse when you're ready; if you think you are, go for it. Be ready for challenges far beyond what you've experienced in nursing school. Likewise with applying to anesthesia school, you need to be adequately prepared. If you take either course before you're ready, you're setting yourself up for failure. I've seen it happen in the ICU. Be honest with yourself and humble to those who teach you.

How easy is it to get ICU experience while in nursing school? Is it usually part of your clinical rotations, or do you have to request it?

It depends on the institution you are attending. If you don't think that is going to be sufficient to get you employed in an ICU, you might want to consider part-time employment while attending school, that helps to secure a position after graduating. Several people on my unit have/are using this route, including myself.

It depends on the institution that you are attending. The BSN program that is predominate at the hospital that I work part-time at does allow the students to select in their senior year the option of rotating through an ICU for a semester (if not more--not sure) of clinicals. My ADN program only allowed us to attend 1 day (sigh). Don't let that distract you though, get part-time employment and work your way into a positon in an ICU as a tech, etc. In my unit several techs have made the jump to RN after graduation. It can be done (I am going that route too) just look at all the options available.

How easy is it to get ICU experience while in nursing school? Is it usually part of your clinical rotations, or do you have to request it?

Look into during a "nurse externship," or SN Clinical Enrichment Program." You would basically be a glorified tech, but you will learn so much. At hospitals in my area ( an I did two of these in ER and ICU) hospitals will give you a part time clinical position to train with an RN in any area that you have interest in. The point for them is recruitment hoping that you will love their hospital and thank them by taking a full time position when you're an RN. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO SEE IF YOU LIKE ICU,ER, OBGYN, WHATEVER. And it gets your foot in the door at that hospital, gives you invaluable clinical experience far superior to your school's clinicals, learn TONS, earn some money for Christmas. Highly recommend it.:up:

I just graduated from nursing school in July, passed the NCLEX and started at a local hospital in their cardiac observation unit in September. It's not an intensive care unit but it's a step down and we do 3:1 drips. Two of my 3 patients yesterday were on a cardizem and dopamine drip...well, Bumex too but that doesn't count...

Anyways, since I graduated this summer and am near Los Angeles, I really heard great things about the UCLA intensive care nurse residency program but since they weren't interviewing until now, I took my current job. So, being a relatively new grad, I interviewed with UCLA just a few days ago and from what I heard, it was pretty competitive. Cardio-thoracic and neuro/trauma ICU positions were all full so they weren't taking new grads for those units into their residency programs so I interviewed with the only two available: MICU and liver transplant. There was only one spot left for the MICU and nurse anesthesia adcoms would prefer MICU over liver transplant in my opinion so I was hoping to somehow get an offer for MICU but the director for that unit had the most interviews/applicants and one spot left for immediate hire. By the end of our interview, he offered me the spot!!! I was so stoked, it wasn't even funny!! So, I'm getting a tour of the unit and hospital next week and will most likey (99.99%) accept the position.

Sorry to ramble on but to answer your question, I think it really depends on where you apply as a new grad. Community hospitals may be harder to get into because they arent' equipped with the proper training for new grads in ICU but at the same time, the competition isn't as rough if you can meet the right personnel at the hospital. Bigger/academic institutions have the resources to have great new grad ICU residency positions but as you can imagine, they are more competitive with more applicants but you will be getting grade A experience as opposed to small level 2/3 trauma community based hospital. From the local nurse anesthesia adcoms, they all recommended me to either do my ICU residency in at USC or UCLA.

Hope this helps!

I just graduated from nursing school in July, passed the NCLEX and started at a local hospital in their cardiac observation unit in September. It's not an intensive care unit but it's a step down and we do 3:1 drips. Two of my 3 patients yesterday were on a cardizem and dopamine drip...well, Bumex too but that doesn't count...

Anyways, since I graduated this summer and am near Los Angeles, I really heard great things about the UCLA intensive care nurse residency program but since they weren't interviewing until now, I took my current job. So, being a relatively new grad, I interviewed with UCLA just a few days ago and from what I heard, it was pretty competitive. Cardio-thoracic and neuro/trauma ICU positions were all full so they weren't taking new grads for those units into their residency programs so I interviewed with the only two available: MICU and liver transplant. There was only one spot left for the MICU and nurse anesthesia adcoms would prefer MICU over liver transplant in my opinion so I was hoping to somehow get an offer for MICU but the director for that unit had the most interviews/applicants and one spot left for immediate hire. By the end of our interview, he offered me the spot!!! I was so stoked, it wasn't even funny!! So, I'm getting a tour of the unit and hospital next week and will most likey (99.99%) accept the position.

Sorry to ramble on but to answer your question, I think it really depends on where you apply as a new grad. Community hospitals may be harder to get into because they arent' equipped with the proper training for new grads in ICU but at the same time, the competition isn't as rough if you can meet the right personnel at the hospital. Bigger/academic institutions have the resources to have great new grad ICU residency positions but as you can imagine, they are more competitive with more applicants but you will be getting grade A experience as opposed to small level 2/3 trauma community based hospital. From the local nurse anesthesia adcoms, they all recommended me to either do my ICU residency in at USC or UCLA.

Hope this helps!

WOW! Congrats to you! I guess that is what you call luck!

Sigmachiguy, congratulations on your acceptance into the MICU. I just wanted to clarify something you said in your post. Its my understanding that CRNA schools prefer surgical ICU's over other ICU's. So you would be safe with CTICU or a SICU. The 8icu, which you referred to as a liver transplant ICU is actually called the surgical/transplant ICU. The name liver transplant stuck with that unit because it was founded by a great surgeon (won't mention his name, but he is world renowed), that is well known for liver transplants. Anyway, we do liver, pancreas, small bowel, and kidney transplants along with vascular surgeries(AAA and the like), head and neck, plastics, bariatrics and occasional trauma's. So, that unit would have actually given you more surgical experience. My post is not intended to change your mind, but to make sure readers have accurate information.

And actually,rumor has it that the CTICU and SICU at UCLA have highest number of nurses that leave to go to CRNA school each year.

Anyway, the MICU there is awesome, and I almost thought about that unit for a while. You will love the staff! Anyway, goodluck with your new journey UCLA is a great place to start!

WOW! Congrats to you! I guess that is what you call luck!

A little skill with a LOT of luck!! I'll take that any day of the week!!!

Sigmachiguy, congratulations on your acceptance into the MICU. I just wanted to clarify something you said in your post. Its my understanding that CRNA schools prefer surgical ICU's over other ICU's. So you would be safe with CTICU or a SICU. The 8icu, which you referred to as a liver transplant ICU is actually called the surgical/transplant ICU. The name liver transplant stuck with that unit because it was founded by a great surgeon (won't mention his name, but he is world renowed), that is well known for liver transplants. Anyway, we do liver, pancreas, small bowel, and kidney transplants along with vascular surgeries(AAA and the like), head and neck, plastics, bariatrics and occasional trauma's. So, that unit would have actually given you more surgical experience. My post is not intended to change your mind, but to make sure readers have accurate information.

And actually,rumor has it that the CTICU and SICU at UCLA have highest number of nurses that leave to go to CRNA school each year.

Anyway, the MICU there is awesome, and I almost thought about that unit for a while. You will love the staff! Anyway, goodluck with your new journey UCLA is a great place to start!

Thanks for all that info, it really was helpful!! I still consider myself to definitely be a new grad especially to the ICU setting obviously so I am not surprised that I was off with some of my info. I was just actually wondering that the other day because the hiring department might have mentioned "liver transplant/surgical ICU" to me once or twice but everyone else termed it "liver transplant" ICU so I totally forgot that it was/may be the SICU as well.

And I heard that the CTICU at UCLA has tons of its members leave for nurse anesthesia school as well, must be a great unit to work in. That was actually my 1st choice since I'm on a cardiac floor now but they didn't have any openings. Either way, I'm totally excited about working at UCLA...the research, academic, and teaching hospital that UCLA Medical Center platforms itself on is the perfect setting that I would LOVE to practice in!!

Hey!

So, I just got hired for the CT ICU at UCLA from the new grad fair too! I'm really excited about it, but I'm currently living in SD, so I'm pretty nervous about moving to LA. I haven't heard one negative about UCLA, anyone have any tips or suggestions, or anyone been through the new grad program or know anyone who's doing it? What do they say? I'm currently working as a Telemetry nurse, because I wanted to get my bearings down before I went to the ICU. I'll take any tips or suggestions anyone has. I'm going on a tour of the unit on thursday, as I've never been before, but I'm like 99.9% sure I'm going to love it. Oh, and where is a good place to live????

Thank you!!!