ShanHK

I understand what you mean. I trust my preceptor's judgment but I just can't fight the feeling of thinking it's my fault. The patient did try to pull his ETT out. As a new grad everything is so heightened- my senses, anxiety. I second-guess everything. Another thing I need to get used to is the way these nurses handle death. I guess working in a unit where death occurs almost every day, you have to develop a healthy way to cope and deal for the long-term. So, I've just told myself that the things I hear some nurses say during a code or after a patient passing is their way of dealing. Just want to know if this is the norm. As a new grad, I have nothing else to compare it to.

I'm about 2 months into my residency program as a new grad in the ICU and it's definitely overwhelming! My school did not make it mandatory for a critical care class nor did I have a clinical rotation in critical care. I did however get lucky and land my senior practicum in the ICU but that was only 7 shifts in one month. With that said, I love the ICU. I love the fast-paced, always on your toes, nurse autonomy- aspect of it. HOWEVER, I am wishing I had more background/experience prior to coming here. I feel like nursing school did not prepare me for critical care nursing and I am harsh on myself for not knowing things that I feel like I should know as a nurse in the ICU (it's quite normal not to know anything, but still... as a partial-perfectionist, it is very bothersome). A lot of the nurses that I work with started off in the ICU as a new grad and they are certainly thriving here. But I have also heard of some in the residency program dropping out because they couldn't handle it for whatever reason. It's definitely a different cup of tea and it's not for anyone. I'm still getting used to a lot of things and still questioning whether I made the right choice. Whatever the case may be, whenever or if you ever decide to go to the ICU, you will learn A LOTTTTT and a lot will be required from/of you. It's a great learning environment. GOOD LUCK !

I am fresh out of nursing school and working in an ICU residency program. The only experience I have in critical care is the 1 month that I had during my senior practicum. I fell in love with the unit and the things these nurses were doing. I felt like truly, this is what being a nurse is all about. I loved how autonomous the nurses were and how much the nurses made a difference in the treatment/outcome of the patients on the unit. Anyways, one thing that has been concerning to me and something that has bothered/caught my attention since starting is how they treat DNR patients and patients who are on their death bed. A 70+ year old male was prescribed morphine 4 mg. He had received a dose 1 hour prior and this was prescribed every 15 minutes PRN (which to me is a ridiculous and unnecessary amount). The patient did not look like he was in any discomfort but my preceptor said he looked uncomfortable and needed a dose. I administered the medicine and the patient passed within 40 minutes. Basically, I feel like I killed the patient and I feel like my preceptor knew this would happen. The way she and other providers talked sounded like it was "about time he went". Has this happened to anyone? I really don't know how to feel about this.

Biggest congratulations to you for not giving up!! I can't imagine how disappointed you may have been each time... but in the same way... I can't imagine how HAPPY you are with your results!! You're going to be an amazing nurse.

I still have 1 year left of nursing school but I am a nervous wreck thinking about the NCLEX. I want to begin studying little by little now but have no idea where to start. Current state is Georgia. Are the questions on the NCLEX things that we should have learned throughout nursing school? Will I be okay just studying and reviewing my notes from class?? I'm not a strong test taker... I have anxiety... and I have the tendency to overthink almost EVERY question to the 10th degree. I am a visual learner. I like to write everything out. What are some things that were successful for you?? Thank you so much!

Hello, I'm not sure if you are still having this problem.. I hope by this time you've found an encouraging and supportive preceptor and learning lots!! I just want to encourage you by saying that you went through nursing school... you passed the NCLEX... you got hired for this position--- I think you are more than competent. I've been in your shoes, where I felt like everything I was doing was wrong and the more I thought/felt that, the worse I did and the more anxious I felt. In nursing school they always told me, have CONFIDENCE. Even if you don't know what you're doing, act like you do.