OR nurse to ICU?

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2014

Go for it! I love it; in fact I initially decided to get into the ICU b/c I needed the experience for anesthesia school. I don't want to be a CRNA anymore. I love being an ICU nurse! (The hubs is less than thrilled. I think he had visions of me home on nights/weekends lol!) The places I've worked at have given more orientation and classroom training to the RNs who don't have ICU experience.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2014

Oh, I personally don't know anyone who's come from the OR, but on my floor we have one who came from L&D and one from psych. I had worked in an ICU before, but had most recently come from an LTACH floor. So not everyone comes from stepdown or med-surg :)

CTRN'11 · Apr 11, 2014

Thank you so much! It's good to hear that nurses from different backgrounds can work in the ICU and succeed! Whenever I bring a patient from the OR to the ICU I just admire the nurses there and I want the knowledge and skills that they have! Maybe I will try to shadow first before applying!

Mully · Apr 12, 2014

The fact that you want to be challenged more means you will be a good ICU nurse. It's not as hard as you think. It just takes learning and practice. Do it!

lidleanjel · Apr 13, 2014

I have been in the icu for a little over a year now but originally started my nursing career in the OR. I like the OR. But besides I missed bedside nursing, I felt I was loosing lots of skills. I was told I probably would not be hired in the icu related to my experience. I love the icu and plan on being in the icu for many years to come. I will say the first couple months were really difficult because I have had to relearn a lot, but I love learning so it is not a big deal to me. There are some areas I still struggle with but I am slowly remembering some things. Go for it. I glad I made the move to icu.

CTRN'11 · Apr 13, 2014

It's awesome to hear from someone who also came from the OR.. How long were you in the OR before you switched? I really feel like it will be a huge learning curve but like you, I also love to learn!

lidleanjel · Apr 13, 2014

I was in the OR full time for a little over a year, but still work prn. Really about once a month. Definitely recommend u to get a pocket drug book and the pass ccrn book if u go to icu. Review your nursing skills, because only skill I was really comfortable with was foley placement. And of course any sterile procedures at the bedside. Another thing is review ekg rhythms.

markmencias · Apr 16, 2014

I was working as a scrub nurse within the hepatobiliary & transplant surgery team for more than a year when I decided to move to adult intensive care. It was a complete 360-degree turn from my previous role from a scrub nurse to a bedside ICU nurse. I had to relearn the basic clinical nursing that I learned during my student nursing days on top of learning specialised critical care nursing. It is hard work to be honest and there are times that I feel frustrated over things that I used to know which I kind of forgotten when I worked in the OR. Don't get me wrong, I love OR nursing but I have to admit that I deskilled myself off of my bedside clinical nursing knowledge & skills. Overtime, I managed to cope with the demands in ICU & I'm enjoying it so far. Just keep in mind that you'll have to work extra hard to recover the knowledge & skills you once possess when you were a practicing bedside nurse.

CTRN'11 · Apr 16, 2014

Was it hard for you to get a job in the ICU? I am wondering how to sell myself without any experience.

CTRN'11 · May 30, 2014

I just got a call from a hospital wanting to set up an interview for their MICU! Any advice or interview tips?

Mully · May 30, 2014

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/when-last-time-836133.html

Here's a story I wrote about my first interview for MICU and what I learned from it.

By the way, I work in SICU now... lol.