New grad icu support

kayytaa · Jan 7, 2014

Hey there,

I've been orienting in the ICU since late September. For the First month- they had us in classroom and on ECCO. Now I am nearing the end of my floor orientation (429 hrs ?) and feeling the butterflies and nervousness of facing an assignment on my own. I've found the last few weeks especially I have been anxious, only getting 2-3 hrs of sleep before my first shift of the week. I'm not afraid to ask questions, but I haven't exactly developed a thick skin yet with taking criticism or snarkiness from doctors or other nurses. I wish my BSN program incorporated more real life experiences into the classes. I know it will take a while to feel more at ease, but I hate the anxiety. How has your transition been?

tap87 · Jan 7, 2014

Hi Kayytaa and ododi, not too long ago I was in the same exact shoes as you! I just want to say that everything you are feeling/experiencing is completely normal. I've been off of orientation and on my own for about 6 months on the ICU and each day gets a little better and a little easier. I remember coming off orientation and scared to death to go into work...the drive to work and walk from the parking lot to the hospital was awful. Never knowing what kind of assignment I would get and how hard it would be, would I be able to handle it, etc. I couldn't sleep, and was nervous all the time.

Always ask questions and if something doesn't look or feel right to you, let the doctor know, and ask a seasoned nurse to check it out if you have doubts. Usually your gut feeling is correct. I still get a little nervous sometimes, especially when I hear that we have a trauma coming (heart attack if it's my admission LOL), but the RN's I work with are wonderful and help out extra because they know we are new and nervous. I wondered if it was just me over-reacting, but not too long ago we had another nurse come off of orientation and she said the same thing to me one night about how she feels so nervous every night going into work. But it does get better. Never give up, always ask questions, let nurses and doctors know that you are new, or if you don't understand something. Sometimes they assume you know, but you don't, and once you tell them, they are usually more than willing to teach/show you.

I wish my BSN program would have incorporated more critical care clinical skills, etc. into the program too because on orientation it felt like I knew nothing skills wise. ECCO was okay in my opinion, but for me, I am more of a hands learner so some of the ECCO stuff didn't stick until I actually did it on the floor or did skills classes at work.

The anxiety stinks, but give it time - I promise you it will get better and before you know it you will start to feel more at ease and confident!!

NurseYe · Jan 10, 2014

Hey guys!! Thanks for your reply, i agree about ECCO its ok. Each day i know will get better we just have to stick to it!! Good luck!!

RNwannabeCNM · Jan 10, 2014

Hi! Can I join you? I just accepted an offer for an ICU internship that will start in March. I am thrilled but a bit apprehensive since I actually graduated over three years ago and have only worked in a clinic since then (just finished my RN-BSN in August, though). Hoping the hospital skills I gained in clinicals will come back to me.

AliceTrout · Feb 2, 2014

I would love some sort of support group for new grad ICU nurses!

I just came off my 2nd night of precepting on the floor and I don't think words exist to describe the weird combination of things I feel!!! Terrified, incompetent, clumsy, overwhelmed, unprepared and yet excited, determined, awe-struck by how amazing the nurses are, and blessed to even have the opportunity.

I had a heck of an introduction with two nights even the pros on the floor were calling unusually challenging and crazy. I think I have learned more in the last 2 shifts than I learned in entire semesters of nursing school - but mostly I have really seen how much I don't know come into focus!

One thing my (amazing) preceptor said to me is becoming a bit of a mantra for me though, so I thought I would share it. She said: "Learning to be a nurse is difficult. Learning to be a critical care nurse is difficult. Learning to do both at the same time is hard as hell. But many of us have done it, and you will do it too. It takes time, some tears, maybe some beers - but we will help get you through this and you will get to help others through this later. It can be done. It just takes time".

Chaswald · Feb 8, 2014

I too am a new graduate and new CCU and cardiothoracic ICU nurse. I am just hitting the halfway mark of my orientation and i feel more stressed and overwhelmed than i ever did. I have had some crazy experiences as well. Just a couple weeks ago we took a 2 patient assignment and within 2 hours both patients went into torsades and obviously coded. No warning, in fact one patient was slotted to be discharged. I have found that organizing my time and keeping up with the hourly tasks has been the some of the hardest. I am alsp beginning to deal with titrating drips and taking what knowledge i have gained and managing the patients status.

I think that we all struggle in one way or another. I feel it will take time for us to feel comfortable, you know? Or at least to get a rhythm and routine down. We will do it!