PICU new grad job offered

[RN_stucky621]

I was offered a new grad job in a PICU at a california hospital and was wondering how demanding the PICU is? I never saw myself doing peds after licensure (especially in PICU) but was lucky to get an interview through family. I am worried about all the skills, assessment, etc I have to learn on top of me finishing up my rn-bsn online.

Any advice on what to study and which skills I definitely should be working on?

Thanks!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I've moved your thread to the PICU forum where it'll be more at home.

There are lots of similar threads on this topic. Here are a few.

Specific to making a move to PICU from another area or as a new grad:

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/adult-icu-picu-916841.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/picu-preceptorship-what-897270.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/picu-externship-tips-927232.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/consolidation-peds-cccu-908952.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/picu-difference-885792.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/resource-textbook-recommendations-848293.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/offered-picu-position-839192.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/picu-rns-need-832400.html

General PICU topics for new staff:

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/most-common-picu-923835.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/my-first-ever-797340.html

https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/whats-your-favorite-818104.html

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

PICU is the most demanding specialty I've tackled in my 37 year career. Besides the critical care environment, you have the gamut of birth-to-18 and all the developmental stuff that goes with that.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

meanmaryjean is right. PICU nurses have the broadest scope of practice there is. We look after neonate bodies and adult bodies and everything in between. We see most of the same problem lists that those caring only for adults see, plus a gazillion more. Adult CVICU nurses know nothing of congential heart defects, but PCICU nurses can recognize an MI when the see it. PALS is a lot more complicated than ACLS. There's nothing easy about PICU patients but there's a lot of great aspects of caring for them. Most of them will not have lifestyle factors that influence their health. And they aren't whiny! (As a group. Individually they can be VERY whiny, if they've been raised that way!)

[RN_stucky621]

Thanks for all your input......it seems like I better learn as much as possible when I have my 10 weeks with a preceptor before I get thrown onto the floor on my own

[newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS]

Thanks for all your input......it seems like I better learn as much as possible when I have my 10 weeks with a preceptor before I get thrown onto the floor on my own

They are only giving you 10 weeks as a new grad/PICU nurse with a preceptor? Are they going to give you additional Critical Care classes, as well?

[westcoastin]

Have you started? How's it going in the PICU?