calfro87

I just finished my first week of orientation in the ICU. It is going very well, I am just a little confused about compatibility. The patient I was caring for was on several different gtts, all running into the same thing. (I can't think of the name of it, but it has multiple openings to arrange all the lines running into the patient.) Dopamine Levophed Insulin Epi Bumex Versed Fentanyl D5.45 So technically all of this was running in together, as it was all going into the patient's cordis. I asked my preceptor if it would be inappropriate to push my other IV meds into the main line and she said it was fine. Is this true?

Thank you! I just got home from my interview, and they just called and offered me the position. I accepted, and will be starting on March 26th. It is a 6 month orientation through all the ICUs in the hospital and at the end, I choose which one I would like to work in. I think the experience will be worth it to give up my dayshift position. Unfortunately, the differential for night shift is $1...so not that great, but I'm still going to do it. Thanks again!

Thank you both so much for the responses. I have worked night shift before, and I was able to tolerate it, it just wasn't as nice as being on dayshift with a normal schedule. However, I realize that it is necessary if I want to further my career and get into the ICU. You both provided me with that extra encouragement I needed to follow through with this. Thank you!

Hi, I am looking for some advice. I have been working dayshift on a cardiac intermediate unit for a little over 2 years now. I enjoy my job now for the most part, but I am looking for a new challenge and learning opportunities. I am happiest when I am learning, and right now I feel like I am in a rut. I have always been interested in working in the ICU, and now I have an opportunity. One of the biggest drawbacks of going to the ICU would be that I would have to go back to night shift, most likely for another couple years. I enjoy being on dayshift and having a normal sleep schedule, and interacting with the doctors and staff members in other departments. I am worried that as much as I want to make a move to the ICU, I may regret the decision. However, I do not want to stay on the unit that I am on forever, and eventually I will likely have to go back to night shift in order to make a change. Is it best for me to make the change now and suffer through night shift in order to get into ICU? Have any of you ICU nurses that started on other units ever regret making the move to ICU? Any advice or thoughts would be very appreciated. Thank you very much.