Interview ahead, bit worried

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I'm an LPN with 2 years experience. I graduated from RN school last week and just received a request for an interview in the only level 1 trauma ICU in Memphis. My concern is that that it will be TOO overwhelming as I already know the learning curve will be steep.

Anybody take this plunge newly minted? Any suggestions from you ICU folks?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Women’s Health.

My advice: do it! I started as a new grad in level 1 surg/trauma ICU in July and I'm so happy I did. I started with several other new grad RNs and we are all doing great. It was a bit intimidating at first (I had a couple weeks where I was seriously rethinking my decision), but you will learn a lot. Ask questions about the orientation process. We have 20 weeks with a preceptor and a whole bunch of classes to attend, which has done a great job of preparing us to be on our own. You want to make sure they are setting you up to be successful. I am challenged every day and I love every minute of it. My fellow nurses are always happy to help out and really love when I seek them out for "teaching moments". I am amazed at what I am capable of now compared to when I started. I say go for it : )

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Thanks for the encouragement. My interview is Friday at 10 so I'll let you guys know how I do!

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I just got the offer. I'm a trauma ICU nurse!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Women’s Health.

Congrats!! You're going to learn so much!

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Thanks. I'm still in awe at the moment. It's only 12 weeks orientation but they gave me credit for me LPN experience as far as pay was concerned so I'm not too bummed lol

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Congratulations!!! :) Have you started yet?

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I'm in 2nd day of general orientation. Take boards tomorrow and pending pass status will continue on to nursing orientation Thursday

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Congrats,

I graduated from a Nashville school and couldn't get an interview for years......years.

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I'm in my 3rd night of nsg orientation. It's a really really steep learning curve. Just learning about the vents and abg values and how they correlate with each other is taking a lot of time to grasp. I do feel blessed and lucky I was able to do this but understand hesitancy of managers to hire new grads

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Specializes in anesthesia, nursing labor research, philosophy.

It's super easy. Just remember:

rate = CO2 (raise the rate to decrease the CO2)

peep or fi02 = O2 (increase either to increase the O2)

high pressure = check for kinks, suction, and if still high, there's probably something going on internal to the pt (decreasing compliance)

low pressure = check for a leak in the tubing or a disconnection in the circuit

When all else fails, call the RT.

Funny story. The other day the vent was alarming and it was reading a really high rate (in the 50s), but the pt clearly wasn't breathing more than 20 or 30 breaths/min. I was puzzled and called the RT. She told me to dump the condensation out of the circuit. It was sloshing back and forth in the dependent portion of the tubing, creating a fluctuation in pressure each time that the machine was reading as breaths. Apparently I was the only nurse in the unit unaware of this phenomenon. Now I know.

Of course, it's way more complicated, but those are the basic parameters that we usually mess with. The vent modes don't really matter that much in the beginning.

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