chaseloff

Hey there, I dont know if AZ allows this but I live in Texas and they do. I graduated with a BSN in December and I am also interested. I do know that they like you to have 3 years ICU experience before applying. Best of luck!! Camille

Just don't limit yourself to OB or Trauma. Those are the "romantic" units that are glorified on TV and in literature I would like to modify this statement if I could... "I dont think that either one of these units are "romantic". Please, lets face it nursing is not the best job for romantics. As a matter of fact you lose just as much as you preserve life at least that is what I have seen in my unit. By no means do I think that the TRAUMA is glorified on TV. Even though ER tries to mimic real life I believe the real thing can be harder on you emotionally and physically. I just wanted to put my two cents in, no harm done, but I do not think that ANY unit wether it be OB, ER or trauma to go overlooked because there is no perfect unit that is easier than another...

Hello there Michele, ALL of the advise from above postings is VERY accurate. I am a new grad (december) and before I went to nursing school, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be delivering babies!!!!!!! Reality check! Although I wanted to be (in control) much like you said you wanted to be I did not feel like that was the place for me. Instead I am now in a Trauma III Surigal ICU. Talk about some control, it is almost overwhelming but I LOVE IT!! My point is this... During nursing school you will realize what you want to do. It will just about slap you upside the head and it may be something that you have never though about. Be prepared for nursing school... It IS NOT easy. I have heard people with degrees already that have said that this degree was much harder. I wish you luck!! P.S. I have to take my state boards in 4 days so wish me luck too!! Camille

Hello there Janine... I have to say a couple of things... For the most part I must agree with the majority of the postings BUT I do believe that a new grad should be able to go into a critical care setting based on a few points. I am a new grad (graduated in december) and I am working in a Surgical Trauma ICU at a TraumaI hospital and I love it. Maybe I just have not had time to "burn out" yet but I can guarantee that I would be burnt out much faster on a med-surg floor. I dont believe that every new grad is ready to be in a critical area though. It depends a lot on what their schooling was like, what kind of family life they have, and how hard they can really work to get there. No I do not know everything and I probably never will but I just got out of school and I am still in a learning mode. I can actually apply the critical care that I learned my last semester to the "real world" whereas if I started in med surg I would feel that I was starting all over when i got to icu. I also do not have a family and am not married so I have the time spend trying to master this content. One more thing... I had the world's best ICU instructor my last semester of school and learned more in 1 day of clinical with her then I did my entire 2 years of school. Like I said before, I think it depends on the person but I know that this is the best thing that I have ever done for myself and would not change this for the world. If you want it bad enough.. anything is possible!!! Camille

Hello there fellow grad, I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading your posting and everything else all the nurses were posting because I am a new grad as well and will be taking my boards on the 8th of February. Your posting has helped me to. Good luck to you, tell me how you did and I will do the same. P.S.. I am still nervous but the words of wisdom so to speak are nice to hear. We are not the ONLY ones that have gone through this.... Take care

Thank you so much for your reply. It helps to talk to people that have been through this experience. Anxiety is the killer I guess. Thanks again for your time.

I know exactly how you are feeling. I am a new GN and just graduated in december. I was also a bartender during college and wanted something fast paced. To be honost I had no clue what I was going to do until my last semester in nursing school. I loved Critical care and decided to start working in a Surgical Trauma ICU at the biggest trauma centers in south texas. I think that it is important to say that i am also single and have no children because in addition to being fast paced it is also mind boggling as a new grad. But I will tell you one thing, I LOVE IT!! I believe that this could be an interesting option for you as well but not many hospitals have a surgical-trauma icu, it is usually just surgical icu. The trauma part is the part that i like best but the ER in my hospital kinda misses out so to speak on the trauma because the critical patients go directly to surgery and then come to my floor. I say this because I did a rotation through the ER and it was not what I had expected. The CRITICAL patients usually are rushed off to surgery and you never see them again when you are in the ER. THere are probably several people that think otherwise and that is fine, I am only stating what I thought when I rotated throught the ER. Most importantly, I would suggest doing everything possible during nursing school and see what is available in your area that you are interested in. Beware though... Critical care can be overwelming though, especially as a new grad... Best wishes... Camille

In your case, I think you are making the right decision but let me act like mom for one minute..... "Don't just say you are going to go back to school later, do it!" Another thing is that you are absolutely right that the pre-reqs are different. I would not have done it any other way but I respect your decisions. You probably cannot be in school forever and be stable financially, which unfortuneately, is something that we all go through and sometimes makes our decisions for us. Best wishes to you!!!

Hello there.. I am a new grad from a BSN program and I would suggest doing a BSN program, but there are good reasons. My cousin just graduated from a ADN program and the ONLY differnce between our programs were 2 I repeat 2 classes!!!!!! A community course and a Management course that is all!!! Even though the pre-requisites may be a little different you are better off taking the BSN route. Generally, ADN's here where I am are not allowed to go into management positions because of the class in the BSN curriculum. What is 2 classes???? ADN's are essentially the same as BSN's except for this matter. Sincerely, Camille

Hello to all, I am a new RN grad from a highly respected nursing school here in Texas. I was wondering if there were any words of wisdom for taking the NCLEX, or state boards. To be honost I am nervous about them and the closer they get the more nervous I feel especially since my test date is at the beginning of feb. Any wisdom would be helpful in my preparation...