M/S nurse. What can I do to get into PCU/ICU?

[FLnurse1127]

I graduated nursing school with high honors and had several years of exp. in the medical field (primarily in orthopedics) when I starting applying for nurse intern jobs. I applied listing ICU/PCU as areas of interests but naturally (given my previous experience), was offered an Ortho m/s tele position. Of course, I took the position not being able to afford to waiting for another opportunity.

I have been working in my department for a year now and I have learned a great deal but I really want to progress to a department with a higher acuity of care. What can I do to better my chances in getting this sort of position? I already have my PALS/ACLS, good references, I'm continuing education in nursing.

I guess my concern is: with little experience working with high acuity patients, will be I forever (a for at least two years) be stuck working in my current area of nursing?

[brownbook]

What I did was let the shift supervisor know I was interested in ICU, and if census or staffing ever necessitated I would like to float to ICU.

There were always lower acuity patients I could comfortablly take. Or even be a "gofer" assistant for a nurse with a high acuity patient.

Eventually I was asked to work ICU.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

Just apply... Sometimes there are fellowships for experienced nurses who want to move to critical care. The only way to stay stuck is to not seek other opportunities.

[FLnurse1127]

Thank you. Shortly after this post, I started calling around to some of the other hospital systems in my area and found that I need six months of employment at those facilities before qualifying for a fellowship. I started applying so fingers crossed! =)