Making the jump from medsurg to critical care

[lauriepat, ASN, RN]

So!! I have been working on a medsurg/tele/behavioral health floor for about a year and a half. I also have some lpn experience in ltc prior.

I've decided to make the jump from med surg to critical care. I have an interview next week on an icu stepdown floor. I know some of the patient population have vents, and post ops of cardiac/thoracic surgeries. I am 100% sure i want to work in critical care, everytime i rapid response someone, or code someone or get a critically ill patient i get this weird adrenaline rush and it's terrifying and fulfilling at the same time. Any advice for going from med surg to critical care????

[CCU BSN RN]

Don't act like you know everything. Don't be too confident. Don't second-guess your preceptors unless you're a really tactful person and can pull it off without seeming witchy. DO ask lots of questions, and don't be afraid to look stupid. If you ask a basic question, it can alert your preceptor to a knowledge deficit and an area you might need more specific instruction in. DO observe, be a sponge, take everything in. When you're new off orientation, ask charge and senior nurses your questions or to come look at your patient when something seems off, even if you can't identify what specifically is off. They'll be glad you got help before your patient coded or you made a mistake.

Stiffen up that upper lip. Critical care nurses can be a little brash and short at times. Expect harsh criticism at times. Don't expect to be treated like a delicate snowflake. You'll probably cry in your car a few times and question if you actually know enough to do this. Don't give up. It gets easier and you learn faster than you thought was possible.

[Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN]

I'm right there with you! 3.25 years working M/S liver patients and moving to the Coronary Care Unit. I have a 10 week orientation and my plan is to do basic book education for the next 3 weeks. And then when orientation starts to really be hands on and proactive because that's how I learn. (It's important to know ourselves!)