Got into critical care!

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Hey everyone,

I'm so happy and I wanted to share with everyone, too! I've been a tele nurse for one year in August and interviewed this week for the Critical Care Internship Program. To my delight, I was chosen and I start August 24th; I will be working in the MSICU! This has been my dream and goal for nursing since school, so I am happy and motivated to start.:yeah: I will train on days for the program and then go to nights, which I am quite nervous about since I am a "day person," but I suppose I need to start somewhere, right???

Hope you all have a great week and if you have any advice, send 'em my way!

Can't wait to join the ranks of ICU NURSES:):nurse::redbeathe

Specializes in ICU.

One year ago Sunday I became a graduated RN with my Bachelor's! I now have 13 days until I start my critical care program.

I know it might sound stupid, but besides the obviously nervous feeling of starting in the ICU and questioning my other skills, I am most nervous about the fact that I am still not that great at IV's. I honestly just did not get a whole lot of practice with them on my floor. I have this irrational fear that not being great at IV insertion is going to completely hold me back in the icu.....hahah

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Specializes in ICU.

Tuesday was my one year anniversary of working on my floor! The floor gave me a company card that said thanks for my dedication, etc and one of those 10 point passes redeemable for online gifts (I got a movie ticket).

And now, tomorrow is my LAST DAY!

What is awesome and strange is that it will be my last time of taking care of 4+ patients again...EVER! I mean, sure there is a chance in my career as an ICU nurse that I could float to med/surg, but still....EVER!!! 2!~! aaah.

Words cannot describe the feelings...everything from scared ******** to excited beyond belief. I feel like I'm finally going to be doing what I've wanted to do! Besides moving to the unit, I'm also moving hospitals (but staying in the same organization). I'll be transferring from a 300 bed facility to 800...both magnet hospitals. I feel comfortable at both hospitals, but it will be difficult to have to relearn all the new doctors and phone numbers, staff, etc.

The main thing is that I hope I can enjoy it. What I mean is that for the past year, while I certainly almost always gave 100% at work and focused on learning how to be a nurse and how to be a damn good nurse (in my own eyes, hehe), I still felt as if, "ok, I am here for 12 hours, I need to do my job, make it through the day, and then go home." I was not living my job. I was only thinking about what my next steps would be, which has always been critical care. It was as if I was in some limbo.

Now that I'll be doing what I had always wished for, I hope I am able to "sit back and enjoy it" in a way; to truly LIVE MY

(JOB) (CAREER) PASSION.

I'm only afraid that I will continually be looking to the future for the next step and goal, like school. I put a ton of pressure on myself to go back to school as soon as possible. I also feel pressure from former classmates who are always asking on facebook who is ready to go back...and I know many of them will be! However, I don't want to keep rushing in life. I just wish I could ENJOY this time and let school come when it feels right. Truly, I want to be comfortable as a critical care nurse; I want to become certified, everything.

Also, I don't want to only go back to school just for more money, or "to get it over with," since I'm 24 and feel like I'm getting too old. I am the kind of person who wants to get my master's finished before children, etc. Not to mention the new 2015 guidelines that will require ARNP's to have a doctorate. I'd rather finish before that mark. But who knows what life will bring anyway? Maybe I'll go back for CRNA?

Currently, I'm reading "Lives in the Balance: Nurses' stories from the ICU" for a little inspiration.

Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Lives-Balance-Nurses-Stories-Kaplan/dp/1607141094/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250860748&sr=8-8

It is edited by Tilda Shalof!

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Specializes in Surgical ICU.

Just say this post and its exciting that so many new graduates got into critical care. I just graduated this May and I'll be starting at the end of September in the SICU!! I'm sooo excited,.. the hospital is Level 1 Trauma, Magnet and all :D

Since I have so much time I'm gonna try and study up and prepare myself as best as i can. Maybe even start some lines (of saline of course) on my mom, lol :p!!

To MOONISCHASINGME.. I say don't rush too much. Learn as much as you can before you move on. I also would like to advance my career b/c I know I have the capabilities but I think that its best to really develop yourself and become an expert at what you do currently before going back to school. My only problem is that although I know that I'm capable of becoming a CRNA or NP,.. and I DOOOO want to go back to school,... I still wanna be an bedside nurse :stone.

Question: How can I advance my career in the ICU and develop myself educationally and professionally while still being a bedside nurse. What are my options??

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Congrats.....:yeah:Hey. I am also a new grad... I would like to work in the ICU because I would like to become CRNA...what hospital will you be working for?

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Specializes in ICU.

Orientation begins tomorrow!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Congrats.....:yeah:Hey. I am also a new grad... I would like to work in the ICU because I would like to become CRNA...what hospital will you be working for?

Oh glee...yet another new grad who wants to work in ICU because they want to become a CRNA.

One wonders when the over-saturation will set in. :bugeyes:

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Specializes in CTICU.
Question: How can I advance my career in the ICU and develop myself educationally and professionally while still being a bedside nurse. What are my options??

Get a CCRN book and start working through it, with the plan to take your certification exam as soon as you have enough bedside hours (after about a year, 1750hrs). Even the process of studying will help you.

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Specializes in ICU.

Tomorrow is my first day in the unit!! I'm super nervous. I'm mostly worried about how the other nurses will be...if they will be welcoming, etc. aaah first days suck.

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I hate first days too. Just be friendly and don't try to pretend like you know everything... speak up, ask questions, and try to get along with people..

I start in an ICU orientation mid-september. I have nursing experience but am a total newbie in ICU.. I'm super nervous too!

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I had my first day today. This week is general nursing orientation for all RNs and on Monday starts my 13 week critical care training program. It mixes class and clinical. My first day on the floor isn't till 9/11. Cant wait. :D I am going to be a Trauma ICU RN. How cool is that. :anpom::anpom::anpom:

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Do ADN RNs get a chance to go straight into ICU?

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Specializes in Psych.

I'm a new ADN grad , May 2009, and I I got into a critical care training program. Though i'm a new RN I have one year LPN psych experience that I helped get me hired.

I'm equally parts nervous and super stoked about getting my dream job and my dream hospital.:D The thing is I'm surprised that I'm getting less than my friends who are new grads in Tele and ER.

My salary works out to about $26/hr for nights. What is the startiing salary for other new grads in the ICU?

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