First of all....6 months orientation, you are lucky, embrace it and make the most of it! I had a little less than 4. Remember that it's hard being new (especially a new grad in the ICU!), and everyone makes mistakes, new and old! You should know your drips at least the most common ones. As far as exactly HOW they are titrated, it depends on your facility. Your continuous med infusion order set should tell you how exactly to titrate, or you may have specific instructions, but it should be on your MAR. You should be able to create a drip table. This is what we used to to until we just got Alaris pumps that calculates it all. You should know all about what is common in your ICU. Levophed, vasopressin, dopamine, dobutamine, nicardipine, nitro, amiodarone (need a filter!!!!!), cardizem, propofol, Versed, fentanyl. Less common in my ICU is epinephrine, Neosynephrine, Esmolol, Primecor and others, but if I can't remember what something is you better believe I'm looking it up. For the most common ones, you should know what they are used for, what the side effects are, what to watch for...You have to keep studying this stuff over and over, but the more you use them, the easier it gets!
In the beginning, you are inundated with information and learning how to be a new nurse. Know this is all part of the process. I am still a new nurse, and still have questions every day, but it's so much better than it was a year ago when I was first off of orientation, and you will not always feel like a fish out of water!
Don't stop asking questions...Whenever I'm about to ask a question that I feel like I 'should' know the answer to....I preface it with a smile and, "ok not to sound like a total dumbass, but I can't remember what........" A little humor goes a long way, and the only dumb questions are the ones that should have been asked....
