OR to ICU? Can It Be Done Safely?

[SweetSouthernLove, ASN, BSN]

Hi All,

I graduated in December of 2015 from nursing school. Since then I have worked strictly as an operating room/scrub nurse for my entire nursing career. I do still love being an OR nurse but I am wondering if I could even enter a new specialty at this point? I have a special interest in the Cath Lab but I know I would need to be proficient with critical care patients first and I am open to the challenge of learning. Is there tips/courses/orientations etc that would be helpful? I also feel that I would need to relearn my bedside skills so I would be proficient but I wasn't sure if orientations would include this? My main concern is being a safe nurse. I want to be as safe for my patients as possible and take my time learning what is best for them and transition to Cath Lab when I feel ready eventually. I haven't been to a nursing orientation in another specialty so I feel like a fish out of water. Any helpful information would be great!

[The0Walrus, BSN, RN]

I don't know if this helps. I'm in psych and already spoke to the nurse manager in the ICU who said she'll take me for nights. I also am in a nursing home which I tend to work on my assessment skills there.

What I have been doing is shadowing the nurses in the ICU. I also figured with another 2 nurses I got acquainted with in the ICU that nights will probably be better for me for the slower pace.

As for courses/tips etc. I bought the CCRN study guide and go over that one hr a day. I also joined the AACN and will be attending a few of those conventions.aybe that would help you as well? I figured to immerse myself in the critical care field so I can just get use to the environment.

Edit: I forgot to mention. I also try to read about some of the techniques and when I shadow a nurse I'll always ask if I can help in anyway. I don't work in the unit yet but I try to help everyone because I figure if someone has a patient with an issue I haven't had any experience with I will ask questions about their patients. Just figured I'd tell you some of the things I've been doing.