ICURN2011

I am thinking of leaving my med/surg ICU position to a level 1 trauma/neurosurg ICU. Stupid question but I just don't want to loose my skills with ventilated patients, am I still going to encounter ventilators in a trauma/neurosurgery ICU? Where I work we are one to one nursing care, when I interviewed for the new position they said it is 2 to 3 patients per nurse, which makes me believe they are not ventilated, am I wrong? Thanks in advance

We have a few chronic vent patients in our ICU and they sit on chairs-so a bedside commode could be a possibility. We are starting a new initiative to mobilize these patients sooner to prevent complications (pressure sores, muscle deconditioning etc)

Hi, I just wanted to say that I am a new grad and completed my preceptorship in ICU, I got hired onto the ICU unit, and have been working there since May of this year. When I got hired I started a critical care program (which helps A LOT), and I have a preceptor till middle of September. After September I will be required to be on my own, but they have advised me that I will start with chronic vents and then move to a fresh vent eventually when I am more comfortable. Also my nursing team is great, you are never alone and I always ask for help, it is better to ask rather than make an error or near miss. You should definitely contact the director, let them know you were on the unit as a student; gather and prepare your references and resume and show them that you are willing to work hard and learn! I love being an ICU nurse, it is really hard at times and I am learning so much every shift. I am lucky to have an amazing preceptor, nursing manager, and nursing team who are guiding me through learning my basic nursing skills as well as critical/emergent skills! You sound like you have great nurses on your unit too, go for it with confidence you can definitely do it!