Inquiring Infrmation about Critical Care Nursing

[anothercrockett]

Hello all,

I'm currently going to school for nursing, and this is the main specialty I was looking at for after my degree. I just had a few questions about the specialty (sadly, it'll be a while before I even get the nursing degree. I'm working full time while going to school.)

-What about this specialty drew you to it?

-What about this specialty do y like the most? The least?

-Is there anything you wish you had known before you had gone into this?

-What qualities do you think are the most important for this specialty?

-Is there anything you found out that was unexpected in this career?

-And finally, and words of wisdom? Or suggestions for me to do before I go into this specialty or even nursing in general?

[8-ball, BSN]

-What about this specialty drew you to it? I like the 1-2 patient per nurse for more time at the bedside, plus more critical thinking. When your busy its because you need to be so its less "busy work" and more by necessity.

-What about this specialty do y like the most? The least? Mostly I love the team work and professionalism of the staff. Least you need to get used to death, and self care issues like suicide attempts and stuff of that sort...you may see drunk driver situations where innocent people are hurt.

-Is there anything you wish you had known before you had gone into this?

-What qualities do you think are the most important for this specialty? Its fast paced so organization and time management, as well as emotional stability, team work you cannot be an independant person here even if you are good enough your fellow nurses want you to work with them not just do your own thing.

-Is there anything you found out that was unexpected in this career Im sure there is but its different for everyone. I didn't expect to bond with the patients and families as much as I did. Plus there are times where families are doing everything to save someone and you just see it as a waste of resources and goes against your own judgement. Figure out what your own thoughts are on death and dying.

-And finally, and words of wisdom? Or suggestions for me to do before I go into this specialty or even nursing in general, Try floating or shadowing an ICU nurse, see if you like it...It is a lot of butt wiping many ICU patients are on vents and cant control those things, are you OK with that.