New ICU RN

[cc2011]

I've been working as an RN for two years in MedSurg/Tele, and will be starting in ICU (mixture of cardiac, neuro, trauma, and med surg ICU) in a few weeks. What advice do you have to offer a new ICU nurse regarding new supplies to obtain or information to focus on? Thanks!

[Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN]

Keep your eyes and ears open and you're mouth shut. If you do not know what something is or how it works then ask. Don't just do things because you are told, understand WHY you are doing something and how it works. Just doing something because a doctor told you to do is just stupid and dangerous, because they are not always right. And what you will come to learn is that the Nurses run the ICU.

[jennycRN]

This may sound really simple and basic, but I worked years as a medical floor nurse without ever needing a sharpie marker. Now I keep one with me all the time... Comes in handy for labelling iv tubing, dressings, etc.

Again this is basic, but I have also learned that it is really important for me to focus on the head to toe review of systems by the outgoing shift. Because I am accountable for reporting, questioning, or understanding any changes. As a floor nurse I mostly relied on my own assessment and how it fit in with the overall clinical picture, because we weren't really in the habit of giving a head to toe report. For me this was a bit of a change in focus.

[notimetoday]

Be open to learning and willing to help others. ICU is definitely a team effort.

[xxlilkacixx]

"Keep your mouth shut....... Ask questions if you don't know" contradiction?? Hehe anyway I'm new to the ICU from a post surgical/tele floor and I love it. As others said work as a team and ask lots of questions, go the extra mile! I've learned a lot of the drips/meds by learning 2-3 each day on the unit then I come home and make drug cards out of them. Seeing the drip in action really helps to drive it home on understanding and remembering. The people I work with are super friendly and everyone goes out of their way to help one another. Where I work people love to teach and I hope you get the same experience. Good luck!

[ICUNurseG]

Know where to look things up. Find every opportunity to learn. go to codes and rrts. I have been in ICU for two years and I still go home and look things up if I have a pt with a rare disease or something.

This sounds catty but some of the best advice I got when I was in orientation is to learn who you can trust and who you can go to for questions. You don't want to ask someone for guidance if they are going to lead you the wrong way.