Instructor said I'd be good in ICU/CCU/ER units?

proudnurseRN · Oct 17, 2010

I had a professor tell me the same thing. It came after a conversation where I talked about something working best under pressure. She complimented a paper or test or something and asked how long I prepared... and I was honest that it wasn't too long. I'm one of those people that procrastination just works for...usually. Give me a busy shift with 3 minutes to get an IV in and I can slap it in without hesitation... give me pleanty of time to think about it and I can't get it.

Anyway, I don't know if it's a similar thing or not. Actually I work on an ortho floor now... I'd love ER if I didn't have to take care of kids, and I thought I wanted to get some med-surg experience before going to ICU, but I think I would have changed that looking back. I've gotten semi-comfortable where I am now and am not a big fan big changes. I tell myself next year... if there is a open position... but I just don't know.

nursingishard · Oct 17, 2010

I'd suggest you make appointments and shadow the RNs in those fields. You'll find out the pluses and minuses. Then, you can decide for yourself. Hope it helps :)

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Oct 17, 2010

You will go through clihical rotations while in school for your RN and you can see for yourself which ones you enjoy the most. :) No need to decide things now.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 17, 2010

Don't take this wrong, but you need not take everyone's opinion as gospel.

Your instructor may have decided that you are the 2nd coming, but as a student entering a CNA program, you have a long, long way to go before you can prove/disprove his theory. Between you and me, your instructor may have a screw or two loose. No one can/should be giving fortunes to CNA students....at least as they relate to nursing potential.

Bottom line: go to school as you have scheduled. Don't plan to have any unusual interventions because you have been ID'd as meant for ICU/CCU/ER. Plan to just hang in there as any other nursing student.

Trust me. You have only just begun. Your instructor has issues.

Sarah_M · Oct 17, 2010

I think the instructor was trying to be nice. I don't think you will be good in ICU, OR ER.or CCU.Because you are an CNA, and I think you will be good in NURSING LONG CARE. CNA IN ICU? Forget about it...

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Oct 17, 2010

I've worked both ICU and ER and the work flow and environment are very different. I know many ER nurses that hate ICU and vise versa. They are not the same thing. Yes, there can be pressure- but ICU is very ordered, structured and organized, the ER usually is not. You need to experience both for yourself. Good luck.

ukstudent · Oct 17, 2010

Nursing in general is a female dominated career. In general it seems that more men that do go into nursing gravitate to ER/CCU/ICU than other floors/units.

For a male CNA instructor to tell a male student that those are the areas that he should work as a nurse, when being a nurse is still years away, just smacks me as possibly a little sexist. Males nurses work great on every floor/unit.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2010

I think the instructor was trying to be nice. I don't think you will be good in ICU, OR ER.or CCU.Because you are an CNA, and I think you will be good in NURSING LONG CARE. CNA IN ICU? Forget about it...

:confused: There are CNAs in ICU, ER, and almost every other inpatient area, though the job title may be different (tech, PCA, TA, etc).

GhostoftheSun, maybe your instructor meant that you have some personality traits that he thinks would make you a good ICU/ER RN. For example, some might say ER/ICU nurses are assertive, detail-oriented, Type A, and work well under pressure.