New Grad ICU

Depends on the size of the unit and the length of the residency. A bigger unit with a long orientation allows you to gradually build up to the higher acuity patients.

Depends on the size of the unit and the length of the residency. A bigger unit with a long orientation allows you to gradually build up to the higher acuity patients.

Agreed. I was offered a spot in the ICU at the end of my new grad fellowship but it came with a very intense 9 week orientation...and that's after 2 months of the general new grad fellowship working on different units. I know my unit (in general) ranges from 8-12 weeks for orientation for new nurses. I think as long as the unit is willing to work with you based on your individual needs, and they aren't just trying to churn out more nurses, then it's totally doable!

Ps-I love it in my ICU, I can't imagine having gone to the floor after working there. God bless medsurg nurses but that's not where my heart is.

Thanks!

Some of the best nurses are able to start out in ICU right away. I know of some, who are thriving.

Our PICU has a 6 month orientation for new grads. It is filled with exams, quizzes, coursework as well as being precepted. It really does last about 6 months. Every year it seems 1-2 nurses are unable to complete the orientation either because they do not have the skills, find the ICU not the nursing environment for them. One nurse said she wanted her patients to answer back and be able to talk back to her. I have known some that are unable to pick up the skills required within the timeframe alloted. A few others just did not like the ICU and preferred other areas. I knew of one who went to Psych.

Mny new grads are able to successfully finish the orientation period. make sure you the program is long enough (typically around 6 months) which includes classroom work for the first three months. You will always want to be reading, reading, learning medications and pathophys of lots of disease pathways

I started in a surgical ICU as a new grad. I was an externship/leadership student on that unit, so I was already somewhat familiar with the staff, system, patients, doctors, etc. That helped a lot! I also did a 3 month orientation before being fully on my own.

I think it's definitely possible to start in an ICU and thrive, but you know yourself best. For example, a good ICU nurse I know said she started off on the floor because she knew her critical thinking wasn't at the level it needed to be when she finished nursing school. She spent about 2-3 years on the floor before orienting to an ICU.