New Grad to ICU

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am going to start an ABSN program in May and will graduate in May 2021, with the hope of working in an ICU after I graduate. My plan during the program is to work in the ICU as a CNA and then develop connections from this and hopefully get a job in the ICU upon graduating. Another option would be to attend an RN residency program and use this to get into an ICU. What are some ways new grads have gotten into an ICU, all help is appreciated!

So if I take the night shift at my job, what is the average pay differential for taking this shift or working the weekends. Do you have any examples of night shift differentials or weekend pay differentials in your jobs?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Right now you need to Focus on school. In order to get to the Forrest you have to see the trees first. I was guilty of this so I get your thought process. God forbid you were so focused on your career goals (the Forrest) that you didn’t focus enough on school (the trees) and didn’t pass the program. Then all that time spent on creating a career plan is now irrelevant.

You won’t have much to time to look for/interview/orient to a CNA job while getting your BSN in 12 months. It’s doable but just saying it’s gonna be rough.

I tried to plan my career path timeline out just like you are doing here and let me tell you- you cannot plan life. I went from going to nursing school only bc I wanted to be a CRNA to (7 yrs later) working in a procedural unit making 6 figures and loving the work/life balance.

Good luck in your endeavor!

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Working as an NA is a great way to get into an ICU. I got a job on my unit (CICU) that I worked on as an NA without having any other ICU experience. My best advice would be to work hard, don't gossip or be on your phone, be friendly and humble. Although it may not seem like it, they are paying close attention to the actions you take while working. I know many of my friends who had ICU capstones and the ICU they worked on as an NA didn't hire them because of their work ethic/personality. After I was placed in an ICU rotation by a lottery system, I received offers from Johns Hopkins CVICU, STICU and Cleveland Clinic CVICU, SICU. Some big hospitals hire new grads in ICUs if you have NA experience in the same setting, some don't. Your safe bet is working as an NA, if you can somehow manage to land a rotation as a nursing student you would then be the complete package. Don't sweat it too much... apply to as many hospitals as you can. Don't be afraid to apply to the big boys without an ICU capstone...

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

Congrats on starting the nursing journey! It’s great to have goals but also be open to life taking different paths. I planned out everything with the end goal of becoming an OB nurse and ended up being terrified the whole OB clinical after my patient had a huge postpartum hemorrhage... props to OB nurses but for me the stakes with new moms and babies are too high! I ended up loving ICU Stepdown which I had not even heard of before school.

Not saying this will happen but just one perspective. Also if you change your mind about things it’s not failure or “being wrong”, it’s just life experience. One more thing is that I live in SF Bay Area and it’s very competitive; I had to move out of state for my first job and so did many of my classmates. After some experience though it’s easier to get a job and the pay is good... but still so expensive to live here. If you have questions about CA hospitals PM me, my hospital does hire new grads but it is a bit outside the central Bay Area ?good luck!

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Bay area is super competitive. I live in California and graduated from a central valley ADN program. Most of us here are easily able to get jobs at the local hospitals because, simply put, people do not want to stay in the central valley so it's less competitive. If you are really determined to get a job in California, the central valley would be an easier bet for a new grad compared to the Bay Area or down south.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.
10 hours ago, SD25 said:

So if I take the night shift at my job, what is the average pay differential for taking this shift or working the weekends. Do you have any examples of night shift differentials or weekend pay differentials in your jobs?

It will vary by region/facility, and sometimes even unit

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
10 hours ago, RN New grad Aron said:

Working as an NA is a great way to get into an ICU. I got a job on my unit (CICU) that I worked on as an NA without having any other ICU experience. My best advice would be to work hard, don't gossip or be on your phone, be friendly and humble. Although it may not seem like it, they are paying close attention to the actions you take while working. I know many of my friends who had ICU capstones and the ICU they worked on as an NA didn't hire them because of their work ethic/personality. After I was placed in an ICU rotation by a lottery system, I received offers from Johns Hopkins CVICU, STICU and Cleveland Clinic CVICU, SICU. Some big hospitals hire new grads in ICUs if you have NA experience in the same setting, some don't. Your safe bet is working as an NA, if you can somehow manage to land a rotation as a nursing student you would then be the complete package. Don't sweat it too much... apply to as many hospitals as you can. Don't be afraid to apply to the big boys without an ICU capstone...

Excellent advice, much appreciated!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I will be graduating in May and starting in the ICU in July at a level 1 trauma center. It was mandatory for me to complete my capstone in the ICU, I would not have even gotten an interview if I did not have that experience. I had to write in the hours of ICU experience I had in my job application to be considered for the position.

I did not want to work at the hospital I completed my clinicals at, but I could have easily gotten a job in that ICU because of my capstone and the connections I made. I also worked as a patient care technician in the OR throughout nursing school and I think that helped me a lot too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I started in the ICU in July after graduating in May 2019, as part of a residency program. I would definitely recommend working as a CNA while you’re in school to develop those connections. On my unit, our “techs” are all certified EMTs or critical care techs so there may be additional requirements for working in an ICU while in nursing school.

Be ware: there are a lot of older nurses that do not believe new grads should be in the ICU. When you land your position, DO NOT let their attitude discourage you. You can and you will succeed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm on the same boat as you. I'm starting an accelerated masters program, should be done Summer 2021, plan to land a job in the ICU after graduation and apply to crna school. For me, I plan to just network a lot while in school and during my clinical rotations. I'm paying a lot for my program but, in return, they have good connections with most of the major hospitals. We have the option of choosing one of these major hospitals to do our clinical rotations. If things don't work out the way I planned it to be, then ill take whatever I can get, since I don't have the luxury to be picky when I'm in debt with these loans, and network some more. Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment