pupnurse

Hang in there, it will get better. I'm in my 9th month of working in the ICU, I'd say in the last couple of months I've become comfortable. I actually look forward to going to work. Switching to nights has made a big differene. The pace is much slower.I'm able to get things done.You'll probbably find there are fewer meds to administer, less procedures.Try and make a planner for yourself, write down all the tasks that you have to do every shift and check them off.Even the very basic ones, like printing EKG strips, you do end up forgetting especially in the beginning. I remember I had a check box for signing my name on the flow sheet! I'd also add to this based on the report, like new labs that need to be sent or questions to ask during rounds. Good luck

This is a flow sheet that I'm using. I've adapted it from a flow sheet that someone else posted here. I use the first sheet when I'm getting report. I later add my own assessments in a different color. The second sheet, is a to do list, I cut it so it's about 4" and I attach it to the first page of my Patient summary( individual Kardex with meds, and orders). I stick it with tape on the top so that I can fold it over when I need to.I keep adding to this list as things come up. Flow sheet.doc

I know you must be frustrated. It is challenging to find a new grad job in the bay area. I found a position but I'm driving an hour to work.What I had decided earlier is to move to southern CA to get a year's experience and then move back. Have you considered this? Anyway, Good luck in your job hunt.

Thank you for your response, I agree with you, ICU is a very hands on and technical environment. But technical skills come with time, but it's the critical thinking that's more challenging to learn and I think that's where my strengths are. According to my manager, it's OK to be slow, she said some of the best ICU nurses started of being very slow as far as the technical skills are concerned. Anyway, I'm working very hard, trying to be more organized, and if this preceptor decides I'm not ready, I'm willing to go to the step down unit. But the last few days went very well, and I got some positive feedback from her.

Definitely, write that you enjoyed the tour, and mention one specific thing that you noticed on the unit, and how your skills would match the unit, be very enthusiastic about why you want to work there. During my interview, my manager was wondering if I'll get my IP in time. I sent her an email the next day stating that I had spoken with the BON and they had assured me that I should get it a few days after I graduate. So if there's something specific that she mentioned, you could answer that. I also sent a written Thank you note the day after my interview. And the email 2 days later. Good luck

Hi kolt, Could I get a copy of your brain too? Right now I just write on the back of our patient care summary.But it's not very organized, I've been meaning to sit down and make one.

Hi Dawn, I understand what you're going through. I'm in the 5th week of a 12 week rotation in the ICU and my preceptor basically said that I may not be cut out for the ICU. When I spoke to my manager she suggested I work with another preceptor. Can you do that, go to your manager and ask for another preceptor? Try and do it without complaining about your preceptor, that maybe "your communication styles don't match". But i have to tell you that being overwhelmed as a new grad nurse is universal. All my friends feel the same way. Just hang in there, write as many notes to yourself(I keep a little notebook that I write things in during the day). Ask other nurses for help. Just hang in there, I'm sure it'll get better

Thank you all so much for your advice. I think technical skills are important and I may not be fast enough right now.However, I'm going to try and see what happens with my new preceptor.

Thanks Suzanne, I feel so supported on this forum. It's wonderfull to have this place to come and vent and get advice. I'm just going to try my best and not worry. Take one day at a time, that's what my mom always says!

I'm in my 5th week in an ICU orientation. My preceptor turned around said that she thinks that I'm not ready for the ICU. I knew she was thinking that I was too slow.I was very slow, as I wasn't comfortable with all the different lines, PA, Central, arterial etc. But I read up on them and thanks to some of the people in this forum, I was able to get a better understanding. Anyway my manager is going to assign another preceptor and she said that she will asses me and if I'm making progress then they can extend my orientation by a couple of weeks. I thought ICU would be a great place because I have really good patho and critical thinking skills. But I know I'm weak on technical skills.I have always done very well in theory(3.8GPA) but not as well in clinicals. Because I was always hesitant and unsure of myself, I always felt clumsy! But I was hoping these will come with practice and time. I was wondering what I should do. Should I stick it out in the ICU or go to MedSurg? I could really use some advice. Thank you

What I would suggest is becoming a CNA and working through nursing school. You'll definitely have an advantage while in school during clinicals as you're familiar with the hospital environment. Also when it comes to getting a job, you'll have a definite advantage because you can speak to the hiring manager directly. I didn't work through school, thinking that I needed to focus on school and maintain a good GPA but I'm not sure that makes a huge difference. But nursing is very stressful and you are going to be exposed to so much, the diseases, germs etc. I'm sure you've taken this into consideration, but I was unprepared. Nursing, unlike any other field, has to be experienced to fully understand what it is. Good luck with your future endeavours!

I changed careers too. Getting into nursing school is competitive. The best thing you can do is maintain a 4.0GPA for your last 30 units (at least for Evergreen community college). Evergreen takes 50% of it's students by GPA, everyone else is by random lottery. I think it was a really good school, tough but very good. The other option if you're willing to spend the money are BSN's and EMSN. But I'd try as many options as possible. New Grad positions are tight in the Bay area, but things may change in 3-4 years which is how long you'll take. A lot of my classmates are planning to go to Tahoe, Nevada or southern California for a year to gain experience and come back. I am driving about an hour to get to work. It's tough, I'm seriously asking myself, is this worth it? But I made up my mind that I'll give it a year. So make sure you really want to do this, otherwise you may find yourself wondering if you've wasted the last three years of your life.

Thank you so much, you guys are great! I also started the new grad program in the ICU. And that doesn't seem to be going too well either. I'm not getting along with my preceptor, she basically told me that I'm too slow and she feels I'm not ready for ICU. My manager wants me to try with another preceptor and see how it goes, she even talked about extending my orientation provided I make progress.I asked what if I don't, she said they could transfer me to one of the step downs.It's only been week 5 of a 12 week orientation, and I actually thought I was getting the hang of it. Now I feel I'm going to be watched or assesed very closely and that makes me so nervous. And to top it all off, waiting for my NCLEX results, my life really sucks!!

I took my NCLEX RN today. finished with 75. But I got the same question 3 times, well definitely twice, an infection control/precautions. The questions may have been worded slightly differently, but the answers were exactly the same. What worries me is that I chose the wrong answer on all two or three times. Does that mean I've failed?

I just got hired into a New grad critical care program for MSICU. I was asked mainly behavioral type questions, very few clinical scenarios. Why do you want to work for us? What have you heard about our hospital? Make sure you research the hospital, especially their vision statement, their philosophy on health care. Also the type of specialties, for ex the hospital that I work for is is a stroke as well as a transplant center. Other questions like: Give an example of how you handled conflict. An example of how something didn't turn out the way you wanted it to, and what did you do to change it. The kind of medical diagnosis that you worked with Your weaknesses, your strengths. Questions that you should ask are about educational opportunities that they may provide for career advancement, is the hospital on the magnet track? Will you have a mentor after your training? What's the experience level of most of the nurses that you're going to be working with? How many travellers? Good luck with your interview.