ski4life

You're asking a biased crowd, but I must say for me moving into critical care was the BEST decision I have made in my 10 yr. career. Like anything new, the beginning is a little scary but exciting. You'll feel so energized to be learning all the time! It made me like nursing again, because after 5 yrs. on "the floors" I wanted to toss myself out the window. And I was high up! Good luck with whatever you decide.

I am not too familiar with what the critical care fellowship is- but I am assuming you have not worked as a RN yet? CT surg. units vary in how they like to train nurses, I first learned post-op open hearts just through "seconding", general ICU experience and exposure in the rooms, starting with just observation. There was no "formal" training, but after about a year in the unit you were "ready". I think some nurses are ready sooner than that, but if you aren't ready after a year you may never be...... I then relocated across country to a CT surg unit that did formal classroom training then expected you to be ready for basic CABG/valve care after about 2-3 months of classes and orientation, depending on your clinical background. Then things like all the external devices, transplants, and more complex surgeries were added on after some experience, with classes for each new thing. I personally liked the classroom approach better. As the others said, it varies from place to place-there is no set requirement. Good luck! :redbeathe

Don't be too nervous! Any job will be stressful and overwhelming at first, but you'll be ok. You don't have to know every deep detail of everything when you start. The mere fact that you know you don't know everything will serve you well. Just learn your resources and make sure you get a good orientation. Try to find more experienced nursed you can go to for help and advice, and if possible try to gauge how supportive your new job is of newbies- some units are friendlier than others. Or, if critical care is causing you major anxiety, try working on a floor for a year or 2. It is a good way to learn time management and fine tune the basic skills, and you will learn plenty! Having done both "floor" and "ICU" nursing, I have to say sometimes the floor is more stressful! Nursing is a process of growth and learning all the time, you can't (and shouldn't) be expected to know everything on day #1. It sounds like you have a good amount of experience with emergencies through your current position, (unless you have a very dull fire dept!) and you are familiar with ACLS protocols. This sounds like a good basis for success, just take it one day at a time and don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck!

Take heart Barlan- be assured, you are not stuck in your current position forever! Nursing is wonderful in that it has many avenues to be explored. First, you are dealing with a lot of anxiety and sounds like you are depressed. Maybe talk to a counselor to deal with the stress until you can change your situation. There are sooooo many jobs you can have (esp. once you become a RN) you are bound to find one you like. I've had some I hated so much I just wanted to walk out the door, but I finally found my "place" I like. You have had a lot of expectations built up in your mind about being a nurse, and unfortunately the reality you are dealing with now is not what you wished for. It's not all bad though- be patient, take good care of yourself, and things WILL get better. :redbeathe

Totally depends on where you live in the US. Sounds awfully low to me but I live in MA. Not sure, but I think new grads in my area start off around $30.00/hr.

Many times young people get the brush-off, even if they have a serious issue. But this behavior sounds terrible! I'd encourage your friend to write a formal letter if she was bothered by the way she was treated. I don't know if I'd go back to the same hospital next time you have a problem!

Thanks for your thoughtful responses. I know being an atheist is not too popular, but let me clarify something: I don't find prayer itself offensive. What I found offensive was the physical grabbing me without asking (maybe I just have personal space issues..) and the ASSUMPTION that I want to particpate in prayer. It just would be nice to be asked first. I've certainly been present for many types of prayer or ceremonies while caring for various people, but I think it is important for a Dr. to ask first if the paitent even would like to pray (the patient did not request it) and if the nurse or whomever in the room would like to participate. I'm not some mean, unsupportive nurse just because I choose not to be affiliated with an organized religion. I'm pretty much OK with anything that is not harmful or abusive from my patients if it makes them feel good, and over the last 10 years I have seen and heard some wacky stuff! Just a thought: I think many people see a prayer that fits in with their personal belief system as "ok", but I do have to ask you, if the Dr. was Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, whatever, and physically kind of forced you to participate in a prayer, would you still be as comfortable? I am by no means refusing to be present or support my patients if THEY wish to pray, this is a physician behavior issue as far as I can tell. Maybe in the future I would just try to say something privately to the physician, but maybe I should just shut up as clearly I am in the minority in having a problem with this behavior. I have not worked with any Dr.s in Mass. who pray with patients unless requested to do so, so maybe I was just having a bit of culture shock. Best wishes.

Hello- A few years ago something happened that still bothers me, and I just wanted to get some other opinions about this kind of thing in case it happens again or is hapening to other people. I was residing and working in CO at the time. Just as a note to the background, I am from MA (and reside in MA again now) and I am aware of some social & cultural differences between the two regions. One day in CO as I was standing at a pt's ICU bedside with the physician, the MD grabbed the pt's hand (the pt. was alert and awake) and MY hand and begins a Christian prayer. I was totally horrified that I was not asked before he grabbed my hand, and it was basically demanded of me to participate in this prayer. I am an atheist and I do not personally believe in prayer. I certainly have NO problem with others praying in a pt.'s room, as I know it is very comforting to some patients and their families, but I simply do not wish to be included. I felt "forced" into doing something I was, and still am, very uncomfortable with. I just quietly held the pt's hand until the praying stopped and excused myself from the room afterwards. I had no opportunity to politely extricate myself from this situation without making a "big deal" about it, and I was also concerned that sharing my personal (lack of) religious beliefs would lessen my pt's respect/trust in me. This kind of thing NEVER happened to me in MA or as a travel RN in CA, (I had been a RN for 7 years at the time) but happened twice in 2 yrs. while I was living in Colorado. What would you say or do in this situation? It was 4 years ago and it still bothers me tremendously. Thanks for your opinions!