? regarding ICU experience before program...(m)

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I'm asking you guys first because you guys have already made it thru your programs. My question is, Do ICU's take new grad nurses straight out of school? What can I do to get in with out having to wait a year or so before being allowed to work in an ICU or Med/Surg? What are you opinions on this?

Thanks everyone in advance

quinn

My question is, Do ICU's take new grad nurses straight out of school?

I'm a nursing student and have wondered the same thing. Several smaller rural hospitals in my area (West-central Ohio) require at least one year on a med/surg floor, some even require two years.

However, the bigger cities/hospitals do hire new grads into the ICU. They usually offer a 1-year internship and give you PALS and ACLS training (etc).

Forgive me for asking, but which unit is CVICU exactly? (I don't know all the acronyms yet!) Thanks for the advice!

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.
Forgive me for asking, but which unit is CVICU exactly? (I don't know all the acronyms yet!) Thanks for the advice!

CVICU = Cardiovascular Intensive Care some places will also call it

CTSU = Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit. I am sure there are others as well.

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

I will give you the same advice that I give every one that is a new grad that wants to work in ICU but is told that they have to work on Med Surg first and wants to go on to CRNA school. First off, it's great that you are thinking a few steps down the road. 2) If you want to effectively expendite your plan, don't settle for the small rural hospital that has one ICU, that tells you that you need medsurg exp. If you really want the best experience and the best chance to get in start in the ICU even if it means that you have to drive 45 min. or even move to a bigger city.

I know that this is not a favorable comment to those in medsurg but really lets cut to the chase don't go through the middle man to get to where you need to be.

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When I was interviewing, one interviewer told me that trauma ICU was completely worthless because all you do is throw in blood products and fluids.

The person doing the interviewing was an idiot. Take care of a critically ill geriatric trauma patient and you'll see what I mean. The last geri-trauma I took care of came out fully lined, open chest, open abdomen, full bank of drips, unstable as hell and we couldn't oxygenate him and had to do a switch over to a high frequency oscillator. Yep....completely worthless experience.

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Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Post-op, Same-Day Surgery.

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

Thanks! By the way....I LOVE the screen name!

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If you really want the best experience and the best chance to get in start in the ICU even if it means that you have to drive 45 min. or even move to a bigger city.

That's exactly what I plan to do. I don't mind driving 50 minutes one-way in order to procure a job that will provide good experience. Almost all nurses that I talk to advise me to go to the bigger cities.

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