JustAnotherNursemaybe

Give yourself some grace. Neither of those things are bad bad. You are still new and training your brain. I was 6 months in the ICU before I felt somewhat competent. I'm almost 2 years in and there are times when I need to check my charting before report "wait, was the levo at 13 or 14? I've been up and down 50 million times tonight" If there's something funky going on with my assessment, I'll still bring a more experienced nurse in to give me a second pair of eyes. We all do it. Honestly, I'm side eyeing your manager for reprimanded you over the Bair hugger thing. Like, bleach it and move on with your life. I cant believe that's even a blip on her radar...

Not exactly the same, but I went from NICU to adult ICU. Find a good new to specialty program and have fun

I am (was?) A level 2+ nicu nurse. I don't think most other hospitals have it. It's a level 3 nicu, but when I was trained they didn't have very many level 3 babies. So I take 30+weeks, 1200g, and everything below a vent. Fast forward several years and they are training all the new residents to level 3 but couldn't promise me a time frame for training. I moved to adult ICU. My former manager said I could pick up shifts as long as I fulfilled the per diem requirement to keep my competencies up. Well.... then covid hit and they don't want a dirty adult nurse playing with the babies. (Which is fair). So now I've been out of nicu for a year. I miss the babies. How long is too long to be out do you think before I've ruined my chances to be a competent per diem?

Oh look, 320 beds too... hmm Well, if the name Merry means anything to you, come to night shift. Everyone's been leaving to day shift or pacu, which means we get way more fun assignments because there's no other option. I had 2 stable vents and an admit last week because going on divert apperently doesn't mean we don't actually get more patients.

You perfectly described my ICU. Like, I'm going to look up how many total beds we have because you perfectly described my unit. It's been a good learning experience (I've been here a year). I just got trained to CRRT and had a swan the other night. The second swan I've even seen in the last year. Someday I think im going to move to a bigger hospital downtown, but for now there's still a lot to learn

Not all icus are like that, for sure. I've been in ICU for almost a year now, so I totally understand the whole starting during a pandemic thing. However, my hospital has gone above and beyond to try and keep everything safe. I've never had more than 2 patients at a time and at one point they were paying travelers $8k a week to come here. We have a designated stat nurse that goes to rapids and codes, as well as the charge. Floor nurses never do. We also have a designated hospitalist that's always on the floor (unless they are assessing someone to come to ICU). Last night I had 3 doctors in my room trying to keep my patient alive, all I had to do was poke my head out the door and yell "hey!" I know just based on reading about other people's experiences that I apperently have it extremely cushy. But if you are willing to relocate, I wouldn't hesitate. Your mental health and growth as a nurse is important. There are a lot of ICUs out there

How did you decide how to specialize? It seems so daunting, to spend a bunch of money on school to do one thing for the next 30 years. I feel like I want to do everything, but I don't see myself being a bedside nurse forever. I worked in the OR during nursing school- loved the idea of being a CRNA. Ended up in NICU for my senior practicum and wasn't about to turn down a job offer! Loved NICU, thought about NNP (I'm sure I would love it), but they aren't used a lot in my area. Moved to adult ICU for the required experience- also love it here (even with covid). Found out my local teaching hospital has an acnp ICU fellowship. That sounds amazing!

I started January in a community hospital mixed ICU. We are a stroke center, level 3 trauma, no open hearts. I signed a new to specialty contract for 2 years, so no running off to the big city hospitals. Although in talking with travelers, I think I like getting a bit of everything vs just cardiac or just neuro? I currently work night shift, which I prefer. I've always been a night shift person. But on nights, we don't really get into the plan of care and making changes. It's basically just "keep the person alive" we have actually been emailed reminders by management to not bother the docs unless we NEED something. Plus side- I've gotten pretty good at figuring out when I do need something and what it is vs the drs being more on top of things. On nights we are pretty short staffed, so I get patients that my cohort peers on dayshift don't seem to get. Post arrest, proned, multiple pressors, etc. I'll likely get trained to CRRT, Ballon pump, impella, and charge (eventually) sooner too. But the dayshift people seems to have a lot better knowledge of what we are doing, why we are doing it, where we go next. I try to dig into the chart, but so often it seems like I just never have enough time. I went into NICU as a new grad and this is my only adult experience. So much is new and just... adults are wierd. I have the senority to pick whichever shift I want. So which is better?

Beeker- I don't know if age would have anything to do with it, as long as you are willing to be engaged and flexible. I would encourage anyone to make the leap! I am really really loving ICU. Yes, its hard. But its exhilarating. I feel like I have grown more as a nurse in the past 6 months than I did in the 5 years prior. Just study study study as much as you can before you hit the unit. My hospital bought AACN's ECCO modules for us and I really like them

What ever shifts you do decide to pick up are immensely more help to the team than quitting and not picking up any at all. don't feel guilty, you are doing what you can. We are in this for the long haul, you have to be careful of burning out. So many people have left my unit for like, PACU, after we got over our surge.

I know NICU experience isn't looked super favorably on, which is why I now work in an adult ICU. Im planning on getting my CCRN as soon as I am eligible. Is it worth it to also get my CCRN-NIC? My only hesitation is the hours requirement to keep it up to date. Im able to pick up shifts in the NICU still, but from a learning perspective its probably better to pick up shifts in the CCU when I have the option. What do you think?

I work per diem in Nicu and full time in adult ICU. Neither are the type of place you can do per diem/part time without a couple years experience first

Thank you! This was the exact thing I needed to hear tonight LOL but at least I get to check off "give adenosine" on the list

I'm a new to specialty nurse in the ICU. I had 2 precepted weeks on the floor before covid hit us, hard. So basically my entire preceptorship was proned covid patients. I got really good at that, but now I'm independent, covid has lightened up, and im supposed to take care of things I have literally never seen before (my only other experience is NICU). My charge nurses are awesome and everyone is helpful, so I don't feel unsafe or unsupported. I just feel like a blumbering idiot 95% of the time. Please. Tell me at some point this feeling goes away?

I have 6 years nicu experience and moved to adult ICU in January. Trust me, you are going to want adult experience. It truly is a different world.