...ICU ...good idea??

moonischasingme1 · Sep 7, 2009

I don't know if your hospital has a policy, but mine stated you needed to be on one floor for 6 months before transfer. If you feel you're not ready, then stay for 1 year. I just finished working tele/progressive care for 1 year exactly and transferred to ICU for their Critical Care Internship program. I wish I could have done it earlier (because it is AWESOME), but I am glad for the skills I learned on the floors.

allnurses Guide · Sep 7, 2009

Sounds like you answered your own question - if you don't feel ready, you're probably not. Some nervousness is good, but you should feel confident in your basic skills before trying to learn advanced ones. It also depends on the duration and quality of the ICU orientation process at your hospital - do you know what is involved with that?

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2009

I worked the floor for two years before I went. I couldn't wait to go--if you feel you're not ready, don't go..but remember that the opportunity may only knock once...so....

:sofahider

squirtle · Sep 7, 2009

It's really an individual decision... I started out in the ICU but had a very structured 6 month orientation. I learned so much. You do end up spending a lot of time at home studying and looking up things- so it's not like you can keep work at work and forget about it when you are off, studying at home is a must but it's worth it. Another factor that plays in to your sucess going to the unit right away is your support system. The people I work with are amazing. Everyone is willing to answer questions and help out in any way they can. Our doctors are the same way. I've never been aorund a group of people so willing to take time to teach. If I were you I would go and speak with the nurse manager and the educator for the unit and ask what resources (including classes) they offer to help make your transition sucessful. If you feel confident the support is there then go for it. If you still feel questionable, it might be better to wait. Good luck!

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 7, 2009

I'm work in cardiac tele unit, and interested in ICU. I'm a new grad, got off orientation few months ago...there is an opening in ICU floor, but I'm not sure if this is the right time.. I feel like I'm not ready yet... :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe I feel like I need to master my assessment skills and basic nursing skills before I start ICU. when is the right time?

*** I think you should go as soon as possible before you learn bad habits you will have to unlearn in the ICU. I went to ICU right out of nursing school and now serve as a preceptor for now orientees in our 26 bed SICU. I very much prefer new grads. Nurses who come to us from med-surg have bad habits. For example I have noticed a tendency to want to call the doctor when a patient is crashing rather than stepping in and taking action to correct the problem. In our ICU we operate with tremendous autonomy. We have protocols and standing orders to deal with most things. When a problem comes up we often have to deal with it before it gets worse, not waste time calling a doctor and asking him what we should do.

Salesman217 · Sep 7, 2009

Like everyone says, it depends. I went into an ICU right out of school. But I was old (40) so not much scared me, and my personality is really laid back. Also, the hospital I worked at was really low acuity. It was about a year before I had a patient in an acute life threatening situation who was not 150 years old (in other words, if they die, it's not such a great tragedy in the global sense of things although they can be 250 and it still be a great tragedy for the family). This chick was 27 with a family and had some mysterious respiratory stuff going on. Really scary because she almost died. At that point I had been there a year so I was competent enough to know how to confer with other nurses and how to communicate effectively with docs at 3am. Nights if better if you go because you get alot of support because there's alot of down time. Our orientation was only 3 months.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2009

I think the "learning bad habits" vs "needs to learn how to care effectively for patients and families before hitting the unit" argument is highly individual. My preceptors were all happy they could leave me to do most things on my own and concentrate on critical care with me rather early on. I have heard on the board that some preceptors don't want a nurse to have prior floor experience, but on my unit, experience is valued.

Either way, be prepared to spend lots of time reading at home!