New ICU nurse

[BloodyMedic]

Hey guys, I'm a recently licensed RN and I just got a job at a pretty large regional center in the ICU. Interview went well, everyone seemed really nice, but I'm still nervous as all get out to do a good job. I've been a Paramedic for 6 years and did my RN preceptorship in a very large regional burn unit so I'm praying that everything isn't completely alien to me. I'm currently enrolled in a BSN program and my ultimate goal is to get accepted to CRNA school. I told the unit manager during my interview and she told me that they will require me to have my CCRN and they will help me do it and even pay for the test. (This may not seem like a big deal to y'all but coming from EMS where every company does nothing but try to screw you around every corner, it means alot to me.)

Basically I'm just asking for any advice about what pitfalls to avoid at this new venture. Any medics out there, or people as unsure of themselves in this arena as I am?

[Residentmaid, MSN]

You're going to be every other nurses best friend when it comes to a hard stick!!!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

You will need to silence your medic. You will have an advantage as far as organization is concerned and a cool head in an emergency. ICU medicine is very different getting down to the small intracacies and in nuances of the human body and the critically ill human physiology which will be of emense importance when administering anesthesia. I would also keep your CRNA goals at a distant bay. One reason is you need to learn how to be a good ICU nurse, learning PA lines drugs and gtts. Number 2 is that staff may percieve that you aren't vested and using them as a stepping stone. Whether or not that is true.....no one wants to feel used. ICU nurses are as tough to break into as an ED nurse.....it's just a different critical focus. They want a tight knit "team" they can trust. Congratulations! Good Luck!