I got a private message asking me if I want to know more about ICU and I do! But this site won't allow me to pm yet! Here was my 'would be' response:
Yes! I am going to start Nursing School in the fall and our instructors said it is really important to start figuring out what departments/areas/specialties we are interested in.
My program only allows the top students to do rotations for ICU, Med Surg, and ED.
I'm a single mom and I'm really worried being so will hinder my ability to be successful in ICU/ED.
What are the Pros and Cons?
What type of character do you need to have to work ICU?
Well let's start with the fact that, in larger hospitals, there isn't "the ICU," there are several adult ICUs and each has its own character.
At the facility where I work there are 7 adults ICUs (Cardiothoracic, neuro, etc) as well as two peds ICUs.
Generally, the ICUs are very controlled, structured, orderly, and sedate places... except when they aren't though even when one patient is crumping hard, the rest of the unit remains controlled and orderly.
The ED is just the opposite. By their nature, the ED tends to be chaotic and energetic places.
Fully agree. It is not uncommon for nursing students to decide "this will be my specialty" in just about every rotation. LOL! One thing though to keep in mind, sometimes a specialty you thought you had no interest in turns out to be something you surprisingly enjoy. As a student, I was paralyzed with fear of the Pediatric rotation. I knew for sure that wouldn't be my specialty. I have now been a Pediateic nurse for nearly 30 years, and nearly 20 of them in PICU! You never know until you try.
I'd be happy to talk about this. However, my experience is in Pediatric Critical Care. Do you have any questions in particular, or just want opinions?
I'll give it a try... In general, it can be a particularly stressful specialty, but like any other position, when you work with a good team and the culture of the unit is to help one another, it is much less stressful.
Some general points:
Many an ICU nurse will tell you that they are control freaks and often perfectionists on the OCD side of the spectrum. For example, NICU nurses are known to be very protective of their patients and really don't want anyone "messing around" with their babies. Their issolettes are color coordinated with blankets placed and rolled in very specific ways, and decorated with all kinds of cute pictures and signs. CCU nurses often have all the latest protocols memorized and can read the most obscure arrhythmias.
We all are particular about certain ways of doing things, but anyone with some maturity and experience knows there sometimes are several good ways to do something. You should always be open to learn new things or new ways of doing things. Most of us like having the very complicated patient that requires our undivided focus.
Depending on the type of hospital you work in....Big teaching hospital with Residents and Medical Students, and on the cutting edge of the latest care VS smaller, private hospitals with only attending physicians....The first can be very interesting, often high acuity patients, and you learn all the time.
The second, less variety in patients, but nice familiarity with the physicians so you get to know how they tend to do their orders and they get to know you. It can be a very nice environment as well. All depends on what you like.
As long as you get good Critical Care training with excellent preceptors and consistent support, and a good variety of experiences before you go out on your own, it can a lot of fun and nicely challenging. Without those things, it can be hell. Being honest. Support from your colleagues as a newbie is so important in any new field, but essential for success in Critical Care.
Be prepared for more deaths than other units, and know that your patients' families are often extremely upset, worried and sometimes require a lot of attention. Once you become comfortable in an ICU, it can be very difficult to go back to med-surg floors. There is quite a transition in getting used to taking care of several patients vs 1or 2...
Well, that's it from the top of my head. Any specific questions, just ask! Good luck!
I'd be happy to talk about this. However, my experience is in Pediatric Critical Care. Do you have any questions in particular, or just want opinions?
I'll give it a try... In general, it can be a particularly stressful specialty, but like any other position, when you work with a good team and the culture of the unit is to help one another, it is much less stressful.
Some general points:
Many an ICU nurse will tell you that they are control freaks and often perfectionists on the OCD side of the spectrum. For example, NICU nurses are known to be very protective of their patients and really don't want anyone "messing around" with their babies. Their issolettes are color coordinated with blankets placed and rolled in very specific ways, and decorated with all kinds of cute pictures and signs. CCU nurses often have all the latest protocols memorized and can read the most obscure arrhythmias.
We all are particular about certain ways of doing things, but anyone with some maturity and experience knows there sometimes are several good ways to do something. You should always be open to learn new things or new ways of doing things. Most of us like having the very complicated patient that requires our undivided focus.
Depending on the type of hospital you work in....Big teaching hospital with Residents and Medical Students, and on the cutting edge of the latest care VS smaller, private hospitals with only attending physicians....The first can be very interesting, often high acuity patients, and you learn all the time.
The second, less variety in patients, but nice familiarity with the physicians so you get to know how they tend to do their orders and they get to know you. It can be a very nice environment as well. All depends on what you like.
As long as you get good Critical Care training with excellent preceptors and consistent support, and a good variety of experiences before you go out on your own, it can a lot of fun and nicely challenging. Without those things, it can be hell. Being honest. Support from your colleagues as a newbie is so important in any new field, but essential for success in Critical Care.
Be prepared for more deaths than other units, and know that your patients' families are often extremely upset, worried and sometimes require a lot of attention. Once you become comfortable in an ICU, it can be very difficult to go back to med-surg floors. There is quite a transition in getting used to taking care of several patients vs 1or 2...
Well, that's it from the top of my head. Any specific questions, just ask! Good luck!
Do you have more patients in Critical Care than Med Surg or the opposite?
Generally the nurse to patient ratio in ICU is 1 nurse to 2 patients (at least that is the ratio where I work). Med/Surg is more like 1 nurse to 5-6 patients.
bgxyrnf, MSN, RN
1,208 Posts
Well let's start with the fact that, in larger hospitals, there isn't "the ICU," there are several adult ICUs and each has its own character.
At the facility where I work there are 7 adults ICUs (Cardiothoracic, neuro, etc) as well as two peds ICUs.
Generally, the ICUs are very controlled, structured, orderly, and sedate places... except when they aren't though even when one patient is crumping hard, the rest of the unit remains controlled and orderly.
The ED is just the opposite. By their nature, the ED tends to be chaotic and energetic places.