carebear64

I am part of my ICU's interview committee, and I can tell you that it can be quite intimidating for a potential candidate, so try to be prepared. 1) Be on time, dress appropriately, and have your resume updated and ready to present to the interviewer. 2) Understand the needs of the unit you are interviewing for so you can decide if it will meet YOUR needs as well. IE: schedule offered, 12 hour vs. 8 hour shifts, midnights, etc...... 3) Realize the time and financial investment involved in hiring a new nurse, so don't come across as someone who is using this position as a stepping stone to the next stage of your career. Of course it is expected that you will eventually move on and possibly leave the unit, but that shouldn't be something you are already considering prior to being hired. 4) The greatest challenge in hiring new grads into an ICU is their lack of critical thinking skills. This is not a criticism or meant to be negative. It's just a fact that critical thinking skills are developed over time with experience. Some are more prepared than others, but it is so very important to understand that this is what defines a critical care nurse. You should be able to articulate this to the interview committee. I would rather hire a nurse who is understands this, even though he/she hasn't mastered it yet. Strong skills are necessary, but understanding of the difference between critical care nursing and any other type of nursing is what will get you the job! Good luck!

Maybe you should try another department. For example, Pediatrics, O.R or PACU..... Not as much hand holding, and not the same disease different day kind of thing. Good luck!

Just because my patient is vented and sedated doesn't mean he/she isn't entitled to their privacy. I can be in the process of bathing, suctioning or some other awkward task and in walks a family member wanting to observe and comment on everything I am doing. I don't like discussing personal information at the bedside when my patient is unable to participate in the conversation. I don't know if the patient even wants that family member in the room, not to mention having them know all the details about what is going on. Patients have the right to privacy at all times. Secondly, As a nurse, I should be able to perform my job without supervision and judgement from the visitors. I want to be supportive and help them understand what is happening, but it never ends. I don't think it is in my patients best interest for me to have to stop and explain everything over and over again to visitors. I often feel pressure to give certain information and support that the physicians and pastoral care should be providing. I absolutely agree with being supportive, sensitive and caring to the entire family, but I think we should be the ones to set the limits. We should have the freedom to be flexible with the visitation policy based on our patients particular needs, and the management should support us 100%!

Just because my patient is vented and sedated doesn't mean he/she isn't entitled to their privacy. I can be in the process of bathing, suctioning or some other awkward task and in walks a family member wanting to observe and comment on everything I am doing. I don't like discussing personal information at the bedside when my patient is unable to participate in the conversation. I don't know if the patient even wants that family member in the room, not to mention having them know all the details about what is going on. Patients have the right to privacy at all times. Secondly, As a nurse, I should be able to perform my job without supervision and judgement from the visitors. I want to be supportive and help them understand what is happening, but it never ends. I don't think it is in my patients best interest for me to have to stop and explain everything over and over again to visitors. I often feel pressure to give certain information and support that the physicians and pastoral care should be providing. I absolutely agree with being supportive, sensitive and caring to the entire family, but I think we should be the ones to set the limits. We should have the freedom to be flexible with the visitation policy based on our patients particular needs, and the management should support us 100%!

Sometimes it is a positional thing. Repositioning the patient, and then manually flushing the cvp with a syringe (not just pulling on the pigtail) can occasionally fix this problem. Then again, sometimes nothing fixes it. If all other fluid volume issues are addressed, I would consider that there might be a problem with the catheter or maybe the tubing set up should be changed.

The problem with 12 hour shifts in my facility, is that in order to work 12 hour days, you have to work up to 50% of your hours on an off shift. This means switching from 7a-7p to 7p-7a. There is not an option to work straight days unless you have worked at this hospital for >20 years or something ridiculous like that. I would love to work twelves, and I know my manager would like it if we all worked them, but I can't handle the off shift. At least with 8 hour shifts, my off shift is only 3-11's. This policy doesn't help with retention! Furthermore, working 3 twelves doesn't count as full time. 80 hours is full time, period. So in addition to 2 twelves a week, we have to throw in an 8 every two weeks.