New grad

Nurse_ · May 11, 2014

ICU will give you the best training. If you can get a job in ICU, go for it.

francoml, ASN, RN · May 12, 2014

Go ICU right away, I strongly disagree with the idea of having to have med/surg experience before ICU. I am a strong supporter of learning the "ICU" way before you have any bad habits. That being said I may be biased because I was a new grad going into ICU.

iluvgusgus · May 13, 2014

I did M/S first and I am glad I did because I was able to practice basic nursing skills, learned how to communicate with doctors and other professionals on the same team, and I was able to build my confidence. I am now orienting in the ICU and even though I couldnt wait to leave M/S, I am still thankful that I had that experience because even now I feel overwhelmed. I work with RNs who had 5 and 10 years M/S experience who were charge nurses saying they still did not feel confident in the ICU setting for a long time. I might even say that I prefer M/S still... I think if you go right into ICU you will be pigeon-holed into that career track because that is highly specialized training for your particular unit, I have heard this from others wanting to leave ICU for different areas.

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · May 14, 2014

I see. Thank you all for your input! I am still a year away from graduating but I start my first med/surg rotation next week. I will be on an internal med floor. I keep changing my mind on what area to into right after graduation. I'm flip flopping between M/S, ICU, or OR. I just got a job as a nurse assistant on a medical cardiology floor so maybe that will help me identify if I want to work on a M/S floor or not.

yoga pants · May 19, 2014

I was told by some people to start in med surg, and others to start in ICU. I was offered a position on a med surg floor and in an ICU, and I took the ICU job without a second thought. If you're offered a job in the ICU and that's what you want to do, TAKE IT! I was honestly terrified to start in the ICU as a new grad because I didn't think I was competent enough as a new grad to take care of such critically ill pts. It's definitely a challenge, but I have no regrets. The worst that could happen is that you realize it's not for you and you go to a med surg floor.

palaviccinim · May 21, 2014

I agree with not needing to start in Med/Surg before ICU, but it really depends on YOU. If you have great time management skills in school and are confident in your abilities to think critically, you will be fine in ICU. I spent 5 boring months in med surg, and while I feel that every single nursing job has its challenges, med surg just wasn't for me. I started in a Neuro ICU over a year ago and I can say that as long as you are confident in what you know, good with time management, and KNOW WHEN YOU NEED HELP - you'll be fine. Nothing worse than an new ICU nurse who thinks they know EVERYTHING.

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · May 28, 2014

I see. I will keep that in mind! Honestly my mind constantly changes. I saw a stage 4 pressure ulcer today and realized I really like wounds. Would the MICU be a good place to see a lot of wounds?