Need insight on critical nursing.

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I am a new grad working med-surg oncology floor. I have been there for 3 months. I don't like it and I am considering critical care nursing. My question is; what is it like? the nurse patient ratio? how can I become a critical nurse? I think there is a course i need to take. I don't know if my hospital will let me do so? At my orientation I heard of them starting an 18 month long critical care course but every time i call the nurse educator i get her voicemail and she never returns my calls nor is she ever in her office when i stop by to talk to her. I'm getting anxious. I have a goal in mind. I would like to take the basic ECG course, then ACLS, then PALS, then I want to get my certification in critical care nursing? My hospital welll... I'm afraid to show my interest in the course, afraid of the grief i may get from the current floor i am on.

Where do i start? who else am i supposed to talk too?

P. S. I have realized I am not fit for med-surg floor nursing.... i don't like it.

thanks all!

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Specializes in US Army.

This is a great site to learn a few ICU tricks: index

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Just out of curiousity, why do you feel that CC nursing would be a better fit? If you are focusing on the lower patient ratio, this is very misleading. The workload is still the same, and the level of responsibliity much higher. The pressure to constantly learn/apply new knowledge & skills is much greater.

I would advise you to keep on looking for a CC course... taking basic EKG & ACLS would be a good idea also. FYI, CCRN is not an entry-level certification. You have to have documented CC experience in order to be eligible for this exam.

If you are exploring options for moving into a specialty area, have you considered perioperative as well? Most nursing students no longer get meaningful clinical rotations in this area, & at the same time, this nursing population is 'aging' more rapidly than other specialties so there are projected to an increasing number of openings.

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I precepted in ICU and it is a fast paced environment! We had 2 pts to 1 nurse and believe me it took our 12hr shift to complete assessments, chart, personal care and helping other nurses on the unit. Most hospitals require 1yr experience at least on a Med-Surg floor, but this maybe an exception where you work. It doesn't hurt to inquire or show interest. Just tell your nursing supervisor your looking for a different area of nursing. I loved ICU and hope to land a job there someday! :nurse:

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I am a new grad working in ICU. It's hard as hell and you have to have the right personality to manage it. I can handle it most days and while I'm at work I make it work, but I don't always realize how much it's affecting me until I get home after a shift and just start crying. I like the fact that it's difficult, I have to use my brain and I feel really smart when I figure stuff out and really make a difference. But when you mess up....you really mess up. When I first started I was baffled that anyone could handle 2 ICU patients. But now I don't have much of a problem with it. Of course there are always bad days. Anyways my advice is try to get transferred within your hospital and work towards it gradually. Use your current situation to continue learning skills and get good with the basics because ICU will require you to learn a whole new set of tools.

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