ICU new grad survival kit!

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.

I know there are many of us who took that cliff dive right into the ICU. I know all areas are equally as difficult, and believe me, I would be scared poop less to start on any general med surg floor after having only 2 patients a piece. However, I just thought I'd share a few words of wisdom to any new grad nurse just starting, I have 8 months in now.

#1: EXERCISE!!! It helps keep your mind and body sharp, and trust me when you have to turn Mr. Jones who's 200kg, you'll be happy to have strong buns and back! I didnt start until halfway into my career, and it has made me 10x better at my job!

#2: learn to DELEGATE: There will be days you can't do it all. Feel free to ask Nurse Jill over there reading a magazine to fix your beeping IV, I swear she wont mind! One day you'll be there to help her too!

#3: HELP OTHERS! People will like you so much more if you offer to help them out when you have down time. Even if its something little like helping with a bath, be approachable and always offer. Most people will be happy you are willing to give them a hand, especially when train wrecks roll through the door.

#4: ALWAYS take a lunch! Even if its 10 minutes, take some time out to breathe. Trust me, someone wont mind to watch your patients for 10 minutes while you just take a moment to breathe and eat something. Do this even if it means some work will be left for the next shift. Just explain the situation, they will most likely understand and be happy to help. We're a team, its not you against the world even though sometimes it seems that way.

#5: VENT!!!! If you've had a bad day, find someone and TELL THEM ABOUT IT!! Dont get caught up in gossip, but talk about bad days to your sig other, mom, dad, just SOMEONE! If anything, write about it on here!

#6: Don't beat yourself up, YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES!! I have already written MYSELF up at least 10 times for errors I made. All of them were small, but because you are willing to do this it shows honestly and people will respect you for it. No one is perfect. There have been days I forgot to come to work, I have forgotten to give meds alltogether, and I have given the wrong med at the wrong time. You WILL do this! Everyone has!!

#7: If you dont desperately need to do overtime, DONT! I thought I really needed to work that extra time to make extra $$$ but I realized it just wasn't worth it, and it lead to burnout QUICKLY!! If all you want to do is 3 shifts in a week and thats all you need to do, do it! And dont feel bad about calling out just to relax if you've had a bad week, believe me, we dont want you here if you're going to be a crab or mess things up. (just dont make a habit of it, :nono:)

#8: Take time out for YOU!! Do something that makes you happy, get a massage, get a facial, go shopping, do something that makes you feel pamepered and special. We take care of people all the time, take care of you too! Again, I'm just learning these things too. Sometimes it's hard, but do it!!

Just a few of my ideas, and when I look at these, they are kind of no brainers but really take the time out to do them!!! This could work for any kind of unit but I guess all I know is ICU. I am loving my 8 months but I wished someone told me this stuff when I started. I hope it helps any overwhelmed, underslept new grads out there!

Peace! :nurse:

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Specializes in ICU.

Thank you! I start my ICU internship in June and am excited :yeah:and terrified :uhoh21: at the same time. Any advice given is greatly appreciated!:bowingpur

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

What a nice and informative post. I really cant thank you enough for very those very practical tips.

I did start right into the ICU and I knew it was going to be a challenge and I would have a TON to learn. I was right. I am just heading into my 5th month and feel like I am now starting to breath.

Sometimes the only thing good I can say about the night was that at least my patients survived!!

Thanks so much..

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

Excellent excellent suggestions. I've been in ICU as a new grad now for 4 months and having read this four months ago I woudln't have believed it. But it is really true, and such great advice. Thanks

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

Great advice, thanks!!:bowingpur

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Specializes in Quality Assurance Nurse, CHN, ICU.

What a nice and helpful message! Thanks, but if I would have received such a motivational message at that time when I joined ICU after my graduation and was very frustrated and left after 8 months, it would have really helped me out. It serves as a comfort measure :)

All the best for your future!

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I am in th3rd month of a four month orientaton new grad program at Hopkins in the MICU.

I knew this was going to be a hard one but it is really hard.

The job itself (major organization, acuity of pts and complexity), is doable. I am finding the preceptorship and being so scrutinized to be just exhausting. I know this is an amazing orientation and the unit is very complex, I am just tired. After orientation I will not have the extra classes either so my schedule will lighten up alot. I think that is the other part that is wearing me down, I am still taking tests and being graded, so again, I am tired...

Thanks for listening....

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I am just off my 3 month orientation in an ICU. Right before I got off orientation I felt pretty confident, I knew I would feel overwhelmed at points but thought I would be ok. I have had 2 ok days... which is what i expected, and two CRAZY disheveled days where I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off.... and of course cry my eyes out. I HATE that. I am 30, this is not my first career, and I am used to knowing what I am doing. So feeling like I don't know how to handle everything, nor feel like I am properly managing my time is killing me. My stomach is in knots all day.. and constatnly feel inadequete. I cjeck and double check things, but still feel like I am missing things... In school they told us that we would probobly feel this way our first year... but it's still unerrving. :banghead: :eek:

thanks for listening/reading. I had to get that off my chest.

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Specializes in CVICU, ER.

I would also add:

1. Start studying for the CCRN as soon as you can. Go to the forum here, under Critical Care Nursing, and buy one of the books they recommend. It's helped me tremendously to study outside of work.

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This was all very informative and good tips. I'm not starting in the ICU but I'm being floated to the CCU and I'm just as nervous. I'm a new grad and just completing 6 months as a nurse. I was oriented on a PCU floor and now my floor closed so they are floating us all over the hospital. I don't feel this is right for me and an really anxious about it. I feel I should have started on a med/surg floor to gain the knowledge and experience but it didn't work out that way for me. Needless to say, I'm starting my job search again. I'm pretty upset these days and nothing seems to make me happy... I can't be burnt out in 6 months... can I?

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Great suggestions. I am debating whether to start in ICU or Med Surg. I have had mixed reviews on where to start as a New Grad. Some say start in Med Surg and others say ICU.

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Specializes in ICU.
Great suggestions. I am debating whether to start in ICU or Med Surg. I have had mixed reviews on where to start as a New Grad. Some say start in Med Surg and others say ICU.

As someone who has worked on wards and HDU/ICU I would say do whatever you feel will be the best fit. You will learn wherever you go, but ICU can be very demanding. Some people feel more comfortable working on the wards but I prefer ICU.

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