2 questions: 1 about the ICU, 1 about orientation

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Specializes in oncology, transplant, OB.

Hey guys! I have two questions for you. I hope you all can help me out!

1. I've read on this site people say they "have or don't have the personality to work in the ICU." What type of personality do you think people need to be sucessful on an ICU? I start orientation in the SICU of a very large hospital in a little over 2 weeks and every time I think about it I get sooo nervous I just want to :barf02:!! At this point I'm even scared to suction a patient. I've only suctioned newborns right after birth. Ohmygod!! :uhoh3:

2. My orientation is 12 weeks. I assume the first week will be hospital policy stuff..blah blah blah. If you work in the ICU, how long was your classroom orientation before you were put on the unit? The one hospital I worked for I know RNs are on the unit the 2nd week, but the other hospital I worked for had 2 weeks of classroom orientation in addition to the first week of hospital policy stuff before going on the floor. I realize every hospital is different, but I'm just trying to get a general idea.

I'm both excited and dreading this next year. I realize I'm going to learn more than I ever thought I could but I don't know if I'm ready for this emotional rollercoaster! Only two more weeks left, then I'm jumping right in, feet first!

Thanks!! :heartbeat

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Specializes in MICU.

my hospital for the MICU you have 3 weeks of classroom the first week is hr stuff and the last 2 wks are dyrythmias and critical thinking workshops

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in my PICU we got 2 weeks of classes with a couple days on the unit as observers thrown in followed by 6-8 weeks on unit with a preceptor and then we met with nursing leadership, and preceptor to decide if more time was needed or if we were ready to start on our own. Tell your preceptor or friendly RT about your fear of suctioning and have them help you. My thing was art lines by the time I was off orientation I was fine with them. you aren't expected to know everything on day one or else orientation would be pointless. From a preceptors perspective I will take a orientee that has a million questions and a positive attitude over a know-it-all who doesn't think they need to learn anything anyday. Congrats on your new position.

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Specializes in oncology, transplant, OB.

Thanks for responding Nursenat and Picurn! :thankya:

As my start date gets closer and closer I'm starting to FREAK OUT and worry I'll be in over my head in the ICU. I also had a job offer at a small community hospital on a medsurg unit but turned it down because I thought I would learn more in a large, urban hospital in the ICU. I'm not one of those people who can see or hear something once and immediately remember it; it takes me a while to pick stuff up but I'm eager to learn anything and everything. I just can't wait for the day when I walk into a patient's room and they say "thank god you're my nurse, you did such a good job last time and I'm so happy to see you." Instead I fear that I'm going to hear "ohgod, not you again!"

I'm curious, for those of you who started off in the ICU how did you do? Thanks! I'll keep you all posted.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

I started off in the ICU and I am doing fine. I had six months with a preceptor and during that time also had classroom and online instruction from the AACN. I am on about my 7th shift alone and I've called docs when I needed to, taken my patient to MRI, transferred both my patients off the floor and gotten a whole new set mid shift... mind you these are the little things that scare me. I'm not worried about my patient coding because I can recognize an unreponsive patient or one without heartbeat or respirations. I know will have help in two seconds if my patient is in trouble. As far as ICU personalities, I think I will be in for a huge shock if I ever go to another ICU in another hospital because the nurses on our unit are like a family and we ALWAYS help each other. It is very laid back, but work gets done. There simply is no ICU mentality here.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I started off in the ICU and I am doing fine. I had six months with a preceptor and during that time also had classroom and online instruction from the AACN. I am on about my 7th shift alone and I've called docs when I needed to, taken my patient to MRI, transferred both my patients off the floor and gotten a whole new set mid shift... mind you these are the little things that scare me. I'm not worried about my patient coding because I can recognize an unreponsive patient or one without heartbeat or respirations. I know will have help in two seconds if my patient is in trouble. As far as ICU personalities, I think I will be in for a huge shock if I ever go to another ICU in another hospital because the nurses on our unit are like a family and we ALWAYS help each other. It is very laid back, but work gets done. There simply is no ICU mentality here.

You got an awesome orientation, so much better than so many others who post here. You're lucky to have been able to use the ECCO (Essentials for Critical Care Orientation) program from AACN. I wish our hospital would get on board... we d oa really lousy job of orientation.

By ICU personality, I think what the person the OP was quoting probably was talking about assertiveness, confidence, perseverance, a little nosiness, and just maybe a smidge of anal retentiveness. It's not a "bad" thing, and it's not the only type of personality who will be successful in an ICU setting, but it seems to be the dominant theme.

Oh, and if you hold your breath while you're suctioning a patient for the first hundred or so times, you'll just know when enough is enough...

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
You got an awesome orientation, so much better than so many others who post here. You're lucky to have been able to use the ECCO (Essentials for Critical Care Orientation) program from AACN. I wish our hospital would get on board... we d oa really lousy job of orientation.

By ICU personality, I think what the person the OP was quoting probably was talking about assertiveness, confidence, perseverance, a little nosiness, and just maybe a smidge of anal retentiveness. It's not a "bad" thing, and it's not the only type of personality who will be successful in an ICU setting, but it seems to be the dominant theme.

Oh, and if you hold your breath while you're suctioning a patient for the first hundred or so times, you'll just know when enough is enough...

Yeah, I found the ECCO to be very helpful. I know what an ICU personality is believe me, lol, and our nurses don't have the snotty, anal retentiveness. They can be assertive if needed, but they know how to be nice about it. Like I said, I'm scared to go anywhere else!

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

My NICU orientation was 2 weeks classroom, 1 week hospital orientation, and I started on the unit in Feb and I'm still on "orientation".

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