Newly Qualified Adult Nurse

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  1. As a newly qualified nurse, ICU is a great place to start

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I am due to qualify in March 2016 and I have been offered a job in a general Intensive Care Unit which incorporates a high dependency unit.

I am obviously very nervous about going into this speciality as a newly qualified nurse but I have known for a while that this is where I am most interested in working. I have previous experience within ICU including neurology and cardiothoracic.

I am wondering whether anyone has any hints/tips or any good books/reading which can benefit me.

I would also like to hear from current ICU nurses and whether they started in ICU or what their experiences of newly qualified nurses entering ICU.

Thanks! :)

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Specializes in Trauma/Surgery ICU.

First off, congratulations on the job offer. I must say that I'm a little surprised that you were offered a position so far in the future. What does your cadiothoracic and neurology experience consist of? Do you have tech experience?

I started as a new grad in an ICU and so have many of my coworkers. It can be done. It's difficult because there's such a huge learning curve from what you've learned in nursing school to what you have to know on a day-to-day basis. Some of my coworkers have found the ICU Book to be helpful - it's got lots of practical information. I'd say go into it with an open mind and a positive attitude. Be willing to try new things and go beyond your comfort zone. You definitely will have to. The first year is tough. But if you work hard you'll get through it. Good luck!

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Hello. Thank you!

my experience is basically just two placements (one management) on an intensive care unit which specialises in neurology and Cardiothoracic.

I don't have tech experience.

I still have five months left on managment placement so I am hoping to boost my knowledge again on this placement for my job. The main thing I am wondering is what the patients will be presenting with if it is a general unit.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

Congratulations

General units will vary slightly depending on the hospital.

you could get anything medical, sepsis, epilepsy, trauma, big surgical cases needing increased monitoring or maybe emergency surgery who are really sick post op.

I loved critical care, but it does take months before you start feeling any level of confidence. Take all the support and help offered

Good luck

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