New grads in PICU...thoughts?

boomerfriend · May 17, 2010

If the hospital is hiring new grads and it seems interesting to you, then go for it. The hospital will train you for the position if they realize that you are a new grad - they will not throw you out there with a complicated patient to take care of with no experience. Our hospital has a 13-week new grad program that prepares them to take care of low-level ICU patients. It's a really good way to get "in". If you go to the floor for a couple of years, it may be difficult to break into the ICU. A lot of people believe that new grads should do their time on the floor for a few years then branch out. I've not seen that to be true across the board. New grads can start in the ICU with the right training and support.

PediLove2147, BSN, RN · May 22, 2010

I agree, go for it. If I were you I would try to get my practicum in the PICU that way you can see if you would be able to handle it/enjoy it. The ICU is not for everyone and you wouldn't want to realize that AFTER you get a job! Also, doing your practicum somewhere *usually* helps when getting a new grad job.

Good luck!

LuvPedsNrsg · May 28, 2010

I say go for it. I did my practicum (at my school its called senior focus) in the PICU and LOVED it. I had a wonderful preceptor who was patient, challenging and supportive. If I had the opportunity I would choose to start in the PICU but they are not hiring so instead I am going to start out on the peds surgical floor. I talked to some nurses while doing my senior focus and a few of the experienced ones said they highly recommended starting out on the floor.

Good luck to you! let me know what you decided to do.

Redneckmedic63 · May 29, 2010

I was a new grad when I started PICU as well. Keep an open mind - know that there is ALOT to learn. Be a sponge! Soak it all in, ask questions, and have fun! It's nothing like nursing school, but there;s no better place to be! Gotta love the kids!!!!! Good luck!

cannew22 · Jun 20, 2010

I worked on an acute care/intermediate floor for a year and a half before switching to the PICU. My transition could not have been smoother. The floor helped me learn what it means to be a nurse, how to manage my time, how to handle kids & families, and about many of the diseases and treatments these kids face.

I have seen (and precepted) new grads in the ICU, and many of them have done great, so if you really don't like working on the floor go for it and start in the ICU. However, if you're up for the challenge of an acute care unit, it can only help you in the long run, even if you want to switch to PICU. I find myself referring back to experiences I had on the floor frequently, and am glad I had that time.

Shimano0606 · Sep 11, 2011

You'll have pros and cons no matter how you do it. I had a great orientation at CHLA, so I was comfortable going into PICU right off the bat. Had I not been given 6 months to learn nursing and PICU simultaneously, then I would have had a much rougher transition. In that case I would have been better off doing some med surg first. But, the orientation was great, and the PICU didn't want to lose any of the new nurses, so they were very careful with acuity based assignments. None of the new grads really got patients they weren't ready for. You'll be more confident if you go med surg first, but you will get to do more critical care sooner if you go straight into PICU. It all comes down to your goals and the environment you'll be working in. Good luck!

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 11, 2011

You were very luck, shimano0606. I wish the mutitude of new grads hired into my unit were so valued and respected that they were given assignments appropriate for their comfort/skill level. More often they're either tagging along behind their preceptor, who is assigned to the patient s/he would have had without an orientee because there are too few senior staff to go around, or they're thrown in with another brand new grad who has been off orientation five minutes themselves. Then in the end when they complain about the quality of the orientation they're told that's how everybody else has been oriented so such it up, Buttercup! You truly were lucky!