New Graduates In The Icu?

[Aaron Catmull]

Should new graduates be able to work in the ICU? Do they have the experience to make critical decisions? How long should they have to work on a general med-surg floor before being allowed to work ICU?

[muskylounge]

This is a valid reason to start in ICU. You should know in first year whether you are cut out or if thing become easier. I have a question or two related to this post.

If someone has ulterior motives for starting in ICU do they put this on their application/resume? What hospital would hire someone, then train them only for them to leave for graduate school in 3 years or so? This would mean that those people wanting to go this route might want to keep a low profile on their own ambitions? True or not?

Some new nurses want to go into ICU/ER because it is a requirement for application into some C.R.N.A. and P.A. programs. (Don't flame me!!)

I certainly wouldn't want to spend a year or even six months in med-surg if my ultimate goal was to get into a C.R.N.A. program. (times awastin for us "nontraditional" students!). I wonder if some hospitals take long term goals of the nurse into consideration when placing them.

Just a thought....

[baceball6]

This is a valid reason to start in ICU. You should know in first year whether you are cut out or if thing become easier. I have a question or two related to this post.

If someone has ulterior motives for starting in ICU do they put this on their application/resume? What hospital would hire someone, then train them only for them to leave for graduate school in 3 years or so? This would mean that those people wanting to go this route might want to keep a low profile on their own ambitions? True or not?

I am in the same boat as the person with crna or np aspirations....I agree that this is a valid reason to get into ICU. I am just coming out of school and have a few options for ICU.

as musky said, keep a low profile with those plans.

they spend alot of time and money training people for ICU and they surely dont wanna do it "in vein" haha get it, see i did not even mean to be funny:nuke:

[krisjazzer13]

Well, like others have said, I believe that new grads in the ICU all depends on the orientation given....I started out in a general ICU @ a community hospital with absolutely zilch healthcare experience...talk about stressful! My orientation was only 3 months and luckily I was able to stick it out and become a capable ICU nurse. Others in my orientation group (new grads and those with experience) ended up leaving either during orientation or within 6 months. I am now in a level 1 SICU after a little over a year of general ICU experience, but if I had to do it all over again, I might have felt more confident starting out on med/surg or tele...my orientation was lacking and it was recently improved for all new grads after me, so I definitely got the short end of the stick! I would advise all new grads looking to go into ICU to VERY carefully search for a great (not just good) orientation that will allow them to grow as RNs.

[CandyGyrl]

I'm not even in Nursing school yet {starting in one week} but I am trying to gain a grasp on what is is to be an ICU nurse and common misconceptions about the intensity of it {which I do know that there is and some new nurses do not realize.} I have no previous hospital experience and I'll probably be 31 when I start working.

I am highly motivated and ambitious since reading this-- I learned a bit-- I plan to work as an NT in ICU as soon as I am eligible, and work really hard in school to fully understand basic patient care. I see where having med-surge under your belt may be advantageous if only for 6 mos. but I also realize that there have been new grads that become great ICU nurses depending on their learning style, motivation and comprehensive abilities. I too have ambitions to be a CRNA but I will not disclose this information until I am literally out of the door. {This I have learned from CRNA threads}.

You all have been helpful to me as a pre-nursing student and now I am aware of some of the concerns that veteran nurses have... some of the issues expressed by new grad ICU nurses... some of the reasons why ICU can be problematic to a grad nurse with no prev hospital exp... and some things that can be done to possible alleviate the issues and make the transition from new grad to fully functional ICU nurse easier for everyone.

[night_owl_504]

i went to the ICU fresh out of school and i like to think i am managing well. I do see other new grads there that are scared or too intimidated to ask questions and yes that is scary. I personally am glad that I went to the ICU first b/c I knew thats what I wanted to do. Its been exactly a year now and I still have a lot to learn, but advice to others considering, I would say DO NOT be scared to ask questions, and if something doesn't look right you need to trust your intuition and get the CN to just confirm. thats how I do it, and so far so good.