Nurse culture in critical care

NurseMama5 · Mar 30, 2012

Hi CCU! I'm beginning an accelerated BSN soon and I'm interested in making my way to ICU. Reading this forum can be discouraging because it seems like there is a great deal of "bad blood" among nurses who work in the same unit. I know nurses come here to vent and people often don't share when things are going well. I chose nursing from several good professions but sometimes I doubt my decision when I hear about nursing culture. Can anyone tell me about positive experiences with fellow nurses, particularly in ICU?

In the ICU I work in, the nursing staff is great. We all get along well and we have some of the best teamwork that I have seen within nursing staff. We are constantly asking eachother opinions on nursing judgement or working together on very critical patients. This makes the job a lot better to know we have support with in our department. Good luck to you and don't get discouraged!

Lily631 · Apr 1, 2012

I'd like to second what NurseMama5 said. I have recently transitioned into an ICU setting and I am experiencing some of the most incredible teamwork. We too confer with each other about decisions and are always happy to lend a hand. The nurses I work with are passionate, intelligent, and love to teach.

Yes, you will hear about some bad situations on these boards, but you are correct in realizing that nurses often come here to let off some steam. I'm not going to tell you that every day you spend as a nurse is joyous and satisfying because I'd be lying. And sometimes after a rough day, one needs to have a place where they can air their frustrations, work out the issue, and then get over it. Where better to do that then in a forum full of people who get it?

You might also notice how often people post about the amazing things that nurses get to take part in: their first success in a skill, their first "aha!" moment, the way they helped a patient (or how a patient helped them), etc. There is also a great deal of discussion about evidenced based practice, comparison of technique, and education on labs, tests, and diseases processes. Again, people are sharing with a forum of people who get it...people from whom they can learn.

I'll tell you the same thing I tell everyone: Do not ever take another's opinion as law and do not ever take another's experience and assume it will be your own.

Good luck in your studies. We look forward to your posts about your successes. And don't be afraid to complain about your bad day either. We'll be here to commiserate.

MikeRNWI · Apr 1, 2012

Ill second the amazing camaraderie and teamwork. So many nurses who transfer from the floor to our ICU are amazed at the amount of help we do for each other, on the floor it was just everyone does their own thing. In my ICU, when we get an admission, at least 3-4 nurses and an NA are in the room, settling the patient, drawing labs, hooking up to monitors, etc. The entire admission usually takes like 10 minutes unless its a real sickie!!!

I also love the fact after a long weekend (or just a rough day/night) often our nurses will go out for a drink and some food just as an opportunity to unwind! (Heck, we even have had attending docs come out with us!!!) It may not sound like much, but I truly believe that it helps build that sense of teamwork and togetherness that everyone can be social outside of work in addition to being professional inside

2011GradRN · Apr 1, 2012

I work in the CCU at a large teaching hospital and everyone helps each other out. We work as a team throughout the shift. You will never feel like you are drowning because your coworkers will NOT let you drown. I agree with what MikeRNWI said...when we get a new admission, everyone pitches in to help print off paperwork, hook up the patient to monitors, draw labs, go over your orders, etc. I have friends who work on floors where they feel like they are a nuisance if they ask for help but I know I can ask anyone for help and they will do their best to help me. I love it :)