I am a student in my first year, not been on placement yet but going soon.
I know I may be getting ahead of myself, but I really want to get an idea of what might be the right type of department to work in.
And I was wondering what sort of personal qualities are needed for the OR, ICU, ED, ER and critical care....
Please forgive me if it seems like a stupid question, or if I've posted this in the wrong place...
I'd just be curious to hear from those work in any of these areas, and your opinions on what type of person or personality you think best fits these areas.
Obsessive compulsive disorder. Some ICU types are like that. I personally don't think I'm like that. I'm thorough and can usually tell you highlights of my patients' course of hospitalization, current labwork, lines, drips, etc., from the top of my head...but I don't view that as OCD. I view that as safe nursing practice in an ICU setting. I view my patients with the following mindset: They're trying their hardest to die & I'm trying to stop them from dying. It can be a very stressful, sad, and depressing place to work at times, and you need to have solid views on patient advocacy, health, dying, and death. It can also be a place of celebration as you witness the small steps forward the sickest patients make, eventually walking out of the hospital.
Thank you very much for that information. I am not through with nursing school yet, but it is my desire to work with critcal care patients. I would like to work in oncology, hospice or ICU and hopefully I will have what it takes to do any one of them. I like that you were very straight forward with regard to the emotional impact it can have, that is very helpful. I must say though that it is the things that you described that instilled the desire in me to work in the departments I mentioned. Thanks again for the description. Be blessed. :)
eagle78
304 Posts
Thank you very much for that information. I am not through with nursing school yet, but it is my desire to work with critcal care patients. I would like to work in oncology, hospice or ICU and hopefully I will have what it takes to do any one of them. I like that you were very straight forward with regard to the emotional impact it can have, that is very helpful. I must say though that it is the things that you described that instilled the desire in me to work in the departments I mentioned. Thanks again for the description. Be blessed. :)