Fundamentals of Critical Care Support by SCCM

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I have the opportunity to take the two day course at a teaching hospital and I am wondering if it would be beneficial in my practice as an ICU nurse.

There does seem to be a lot of overlap with courses and certifications that I already have taken, and I don't want to be bored for two days. On the other hand, I don't want to waste the instructors' time fumbling in skill stations that are intended for providers such as emergency trachs and line placement etc.

If anyone has taken the FCCS online or in the classroom, I would appreciate your input. Thank you very much.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I've had the same though re: the peds version. Following....

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

^^^^^^

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

^^^^^

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I took an in classroom FCCS course as an NP with residents at a previous workplace. The course has a lot of overlap with ACLS, TNCC, ENPC that I've taken before in terms of codes, emergency, and trauma management as well as how skill stations are set-up. However, there are more involved topics in head to toe critical care than the other certifications. I would take it as a review of what you already know and as a means to learn new things if it's free and CEU's are offered.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Juan,

thank you for responding. A more in depth review of Critical Care Fundamentals sounds like something that I would enjoy and use every day. Maggie

[RNMeg]

I took the FCCS course after working in my combined NeuroICU/MICU/SICU for a little over 2 years. I felt it was valuable, especially as a new-ish ICU nurse, but I don't have any certifications or other courses I've taken that covered the same material. Also, the providers (ACNPs and MDs) who put on the course also work in my ICU, so I knew them personally and had a good rapport with them, which made it more enjoyable. I did find the skills stations/megacode type situations to be a bit over my head as a bedside RN, though.

[ICUNurseG]

I took it when I had been an ICU nurse for a year. I thought it was a great class and I'm actually looking forward to renewing next year (nerd alert).

I don't know if all classes are different, but i remember the stations weren't all skills. There was one for intubation but the others were vent and bipap management and I'm sure some others I'm missing. The first day of class was mostly pulmonary/vent management. The second day was the other systems. It was great to learn from the experts (physicians) who taught.