Icu

[texasnursingstudent]

Hi all,

I am about to start an ICU class at a REALLY difficult school. I know that all nursing schools are challening, but ours is horribly difficult- about 50% of the people who enter this class either don't make it out with a passing grade and have to retake it, or don't make it out at all. I was hoping that either nurses or student nurses could give me some advice on how to do best in this class. Anything will help! I'd like to know what is typically expected of ICU (student) nurses, how it differs from our previous med surg clinicals(of which I have been in for a year now), and how we can not only survive but the extra things we can do to thrive and really stand out there as a good student. We go to the ICU and pick one patient and then do their work up on them, including all their meds, tubes, etc, in case anyone was wondering or it is relevant to any advice that is offered. Thanks!

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

This might help you understand some class material, or as study guides for your class.

www.ICUFAQS.org

--Best of Luck--

[stressgal, RN]

You can never go wrong with the Incredibly Easy series of books. Helps make information managable. Good luck.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

please check out this thread on this forum that is about a week old. someone else posted a similar concern. i posted a whole bunch of weblinks to information specific to icu care. you need to review and learn about icu problems such as heart failure, shock, sepsis and cardiac compromise. you will see patients on ventilators (so respiratory assessment is really important) with endotracheal tubes and trachs. they will have multiple iv lines or central iv lines. these patients are on continuous ekg monitoring.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/icu-study-guides-187715.html

http://www-test.thoracic.org/assemblies/cc/ccprimer/mainframe2.html - a primer on critical care for patients and their families from the american thoracic society. there is a wealth of information here the includes discussions of the purpose of the intensive care unit, common illnesses of patients in the intensive care units, icu devices and procedures (foleys, stomach tubes, arterial catheters, central venous catheters, right heart catheterization, mechanical ventilation, weaning from the ventilator, tracheostomy, lumbar puncture, paracentesis, thoracentesis, chest tubes, bronchoscopy and hemodialysis), making decisions about the end of life, living wills, medical futility, withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, commonly asked questions, a guideline to advanced directives