Precepting in the MICU... yikes!

Published

Specializes in Oncology.

I'm a nursing student and starting my senior partnership in the MICU. I feel super lucky but also really scared!! How do I prepare? What kind of diagnoses will I see? It is not a trauma center so I know no traumas. Any advice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Palliative Care/Hospice.

Depends on the hospital you are working in-if it is a large or small ICU. Don't be scared-just absorb what you can and ask lots of questions. The nice thing about ICU is that you have 2-3 patients usually so you know much more about the history and current situation of your patients than you would on a med surg floor. Likely you will encounter sepsis, acute respiratory failure, exacerbations of chronic illnesses (copd, chf, renal..) DKA and a host of others. It's overwhelming at first but just try to take it in and learn what you can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've made a habit of showing up 30 minutes before my shift. I can figure out my assignment, look up my patients, review their admission H&P, recent physician/therapy/RN notes, meds, labs, ect. Then, any diagnoses, meds or therapies I don't know, I can quick look up on google. As I've gone through orientation it's gotten to be quite a bit quicker too. The other thing that I like to do is write down the background story that brought the patient to the ICU. If it's your first day with the pt,then the other RN should give you that info.

Have fun! My preceptorship was my favorite part of nursing school. It was such a cool experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I hope you're punched in when you're working. DON'T WORK FOR FREE. :sneaky: That's what report time is for. I have the other nurse just give me the high points as I go through all the computer stuff. If it's in the computer then don't bother telling me about it. Tell me about the family, what drips need to be ordered, any road trips I need to make. What concoction of sedatives work best. Heck, I've had -really- experienced (and burned out) ICU RNs simply get up and walk away after about 2 minutes. "Good enough" and they're off go get coffee or something. :sarcastic: (If you're a newby, the don't YOU do that!)

To the O.P.: be a sponge, ask questions, if your patient is doing good and somebody else has something interesting going on, then stick your head in there and see what's going on. Offer to do menial tasks like "Do you need a blood sugar?", help with turns, or grab the code cart when the **** hits the fan!

Good luck! (you're gonna need it. Heh heh )

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion