Is it possible to transition from ER to ICU?

[culebra]

Greetings to all fellow nurses and nurse friends! I want to expand my ER knowledge and realize that I need ICU experience. How can this be done while working full time in the ER? Most ICUs don't hire part-time or prn nurses without experience. Any suggestions?

[mattsmom81]

Offer to float if needed to ICU..that's how I did it. In a pinch ICU is glad to have an ER nurse to help them out. If it works out ask to crosstrain. :)

Oh and welcome to Allnurses.

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

We had an ER nurse cross train to our CCU. For some reason she never floats up, which is too bad because she is great!

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Hi and welcome to allnurses!! :)

Sounds like great advice to crosstrain and float to ICU. Good luck to you!!

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

[color=#00bfff] hello and welcome to the wonderful family of allnurses.com. enjoy your stay, and best of luck to you. :)

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

ER and ICU and naturally 'kindred' units. Ask the ICU director what requirements you would need to work in ICU. (most certs you should have: PALS, ACLS, TNCC). But in addition, JCAHO requires most units these days to keep track of the particular qualifications of all staff members - and you would probably have to have and/or gain some experience with those.

If you can work in ICU some, don't be shy. Ask to observe your neigboring nurse's fresh open heart and/or balloon pump. Ask why do you do this, etc.

I find the biggest obstacle to learning in ICU is being overwhelmed. This is what I mean when I say we are 'kindred' units. You've seen enough of the big stuff not to be overwhelmed. But that is not the same as saying that you can key into having 'patients' for a whole shift. ER is a different mentality in that respect. So you will have to get used to more family dealings, and more of the tedium of care (no I won't say you ER nurses don't clean poop, but in the ICU, you certaintly will. LOL.)

~faith,

Timothy.