ICU staffing at Florida Hospital?

Bella RN, BSN, MSN · Dec 13, 2008

I did work in the one outside of Tampa and the ratio was 2-3:1. It was very frequent that you were tripled. But usually it would be 2 PCU patiens and and an ICU

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

Not sure about the 2 your looking at, but at FH-Heartland both Sebring and Lake Placid they keep ICU 2:1, Sebring has a separate PCU/step down and theirs is 4:1, our stepdowns and occasionally a hospital convienence are put in ICU first then rotated to the floor as ICU beds are needed, they have ICU 2:1 and SD or HC depends on staffing, I've been floated back for SD & HC patients and usually get 2 or 3, which is almost like a vacation compared to my 5-6 on med/surg lol

Preeps · Dec 21, 2008

Florida Hospital's ICU ratio max is 2:1

sOOnRN · Feb 27, 2009

Thanks goodness i finally found this page.... the topic that I've been searching for all day long...

Hi!!! I am a new grad RN. I am interested in Florida Hospital esp. the ICU/CCU.

Can I go work in ICU/CCU right away.... or do I need to take any certificate like CPR or IV Theraphy since Im a new grad. with no experience.

and how much is the starting pay for the new RN?

and anymore other informations that I need to know, please share with me..

Thank you soooo much for your information, your time, and your concern for me. This will definitely help me alot.. May God bless you!!! take care.....

Preeps · Feb 28, 2009

Congratulations. I would call HR at Fl. Hosp. But yes, you can go directly to ICU/CCU as a grad. And yes, you will need CPR. At Fl. Hosp they have a Critical Care Nursing Internship Program (CCNIP) that they will put you through after you are hired, which will include ACLS. Some nurses do go right into critical care and of course some make it and some don't. PCU floors are also a good place to start. But I would call HR and they can help you with all your questions.

sOOnRN · Feb 28, 2009

Thank you Preeps for your reply!!!!

Yes, I will call the HR there and ask about it.

oh so you mean like, when the FL. Hosp. hire us, they will offer the Critical Care Nursing Internship Program. and if we make it,we can work at ICU or CCU? so Is there something like not make it.... then will they give us more training or we can't work anymore at ICU?

and by the way, what is PCU? what is the difference of PCU, ICU, CCU?

thank you so much for answering my questions... its a big help to me.

May God bless you!!! Take care..

Preeps · Mar 1, 2009

Your welcome. PCU is progressive care and it is a step down unit. You take patients when they are stablized in ICU and patient that need to be on telemetry etc.

Yes, Fl. Hospital offers the internship programafter you are hired, but before you go on the floor. I didn't mean to be negative regarding my statement about "not making it." I just meant that some new grads need a little bit of time on another type of floor to get their skills and organization down. But yeah, I've known some grads who go to ICU and it's too much for them and they end up on a PCU floor or just another floor.

sOOnRN · Mar 1, 2009

Thank you again Preeps!!!

Yes I understand what you mean.

So in your own opinion, from what you observed about the new grad RN, Is it good to go right into ICU/CCU? or Is there any other floors that will better prepare us for ICU/CCU... so that it won't be too much to the learning process, etc.?

thanks again and again... Im really learning from you!!! May God bless!!!

Preeps · Mar 1, 2009

There are many and varied opinions on that one! But in my opinion it can't hurt to start on a PCU floor. Going to ICU as a grad nurse is a lot to undertake in my humble opinion. But it can be done. I have a friend who started on cardiovascular ICU and loves it. But, she was the only grad nurse out of 4 that were hired that made it after the 1st 6 months-the others went to different floors. If you are really motivated and know that that is what you want then I would say go for it and give it a try. But definately talk to HR and I'm sure they can help direct you. Good luck.

sOOnRN · Mar 4, 2009

thank you preeps for all those pieces of information.... you really are a big help... so in your opinion, its better to start at PCU floor as a new grad RN and then move up to ICU later on? by the way, what is telemetry... what do they do there? how about in med-surg... do I need start from there or just PCU would be fine if my target is ICU/CCU later?

thanks alot for sharing your info. as a new grad RN, Im confused on where to go... you know I mean... and by the way, are you now working at Florida Hospital in the ICU or CCU? How did you start out as a new grad.. from there also?

thanks alot again and agian preeps!!! Have a wonderful day!!! God bless you!!!!

sOOnRN · Mar 8, 2009

thanks alot Preeps for your precious information that you gave me... it really is very helpful to me...

by the way, which area are you working at now... how do you like it? and when you were a new grad RN, which department did you start with....? thanks alot for your sharing... may God bless you!!!! take care..