As a new grad I went directly into SICU through a nurse residency program. Nearly all the nurses I worked with the the SICU had come to the ICU as new grads like me. I know several of the larger hospitals in my state have gone to nurse residency programs to get new grads into the ICU.
I have heard manager at my hospital talk about how much better, and cheaper it was for the hospital to invest the training in new grads rather than hire nurses with med-surg experience to be trained as ICU nurses. I have often heard the idea that a new ICU nurse should be a nurse with years of med-surg experience "old fashioned" and not consistant with evidenced based practice.
My question is does anyone know of any evidence to back up what I have been hearing?
Specializes in Med Surge, Tele, Oncology, Wound Care.
What hurdles?
Are you saying that if you take a new grad and pair them up with me 5 years of experience, that they would have less hurdles?? LOL.
Don't grill me, as this is my opinion, but...
I don't think new grads should be in the ICU.
I went to a BSN program and did my clinicals in the ICU and the CCU.
Once I graduated I was more ready for learning, and perfecting skills than I was ready for caring for critical patients.
I just don't think a new grad has the experience or the skills for a setting such as the ICU.
I would think it to be cheaper to hire a nurse with loads of experience, with staying power, than it would be a new grad who may not like or be ready for the challenge ICU brings.
I heard that a 6 week orientation runs about $20,000. A more seasoned nurse might only need half of that time.
Of course each hospital has different new grad programs. I am used to the 6 weeks for new grads and 3 weeks for already seasoned nurses.
rkitty198, BSN, RN
420 Posts
What hurdles?
Are you saying that if you take a new grad and pair them up with me 5 years of experience, that they would have less hurdles?? LOL.
Don't grill me, as this is my opinion, but...
I don't think new grads should be in the ICU.
I went to a BSN program and did my clinicals in the ICU and the CCU.
Once I graduated I was more ready for learning, and perfecting skills than I was ready for caring for critical patients.
I just don't think a new grad has the experience or the skills for a setting such as the ICU.
I would think it to be cheaper to hire a nurse with loads of experience, with staying power, than it would be a new grad who may not like or be ready for the challenge ICU brings.
I heard that a 6 week orientation runs about $20,000. A more seasoned nurse might only need half of that time.
Of course each hospital has different new grad programs. I am used to the 6 weeks for new grads and 3 weeks for already seasoned nurses.