ThumbzRN

I started in San Diego at $26.00 with a $4 dollar diff. Now local hospitals start @ $27-30 + diff for nights.

Our hospital uses the intesive insulin protocol 80-110 for post OHS patients and we also have VAMPS attached to our A-lines. We just use insulin needles to get a little blood for our accuchecks.

I went straight from bartending into a busy 43 bed ICU out of an ADN program. The unit includes CCU, SICU(trauma level II), and MICU. It has been two years now and and I have learned alot. I would not trade the experience for anything. I continue to find ways to learn and improve my practice. Not to scare you, but I was like a deer in headlights for the first year and there were days I felt like I did not know enough to care for people with such a low reserve. I was lucky to have great mentors and other staff willing to answer all of my questions giving me guidance. Without there support I would not have felt safe. Now I have much more confidence. Starting in the ICU was very hard, but in retrospect very rewarding. I have seen many do well through our intern program. Many who did well were externs before the intern program. Just make sure if you go into a specialty area that that the training program is adequate and that the staff will support you in your development as a nurse. I think if your dedicated enough and ask plenty of questions you can survive in the ICU. Remember to take criticism constructivley, learn from your mistakes, and realize nobody is perfect. With every patient there is something to learn no matter what area you choose. The hospital should progress you as you become more efficiant and knowledgable in your practice. I feel at home in the ICU. I hope you feel the same way no matter what area you choose. Good Luck.

I went straight from bartending into a busy 43 bed ICU out of an ADN program. The unit includes CCU, SICU(trauma level II), and MICU. It has been two years now and and I have learned alot. I would not trade the experience for anything. I continue to find ways to learn and improve my practice. Not to scare you, but I was like a deer in headlights for the first year and there were days I felt like I did not know enough to care for people with such a low reserve. I was lucky to have great mentors and other staff willing to answer all of my questions giving me guidance. Without there support I would not have felt safe. Now I have much more confidence. Starting in the ICU was very hard, but in retrospect very rewarding. I have seen many do well through our intern program. Many who did well were externs before the intern program. Just make sure if you go into a specialty area that that the training program is adequate and that the staff will support you in your development as a nurse. I think if your dedicated enough and ask plenty of questions you can survive in the ICU. Remember to take criticism constructivley, learn from your mistakes, and realize nobody is perfect. With every patient there is something to learn no matter what area you choose. The hospital should progress you as you become more efficiant and knowledgable in your practice. I feel at home in the ICU. I hope you feel the same way no matter what area you choose. Good Luck.