Starting my Critical Care rotation in Seeptemember

[kathlyn920]

Hi everyone, I begin my critical care rotation in September, and I'm already nervous. I chose to take what I believe will be my hardest rotation to get it out of the way first (who am I kidding, MedSurg was challenging too!:) ). Do you have any advice for studying, learning that will help me get through this rotation smoothly (ish).

Greatly appreciate it,

Kate

Atlanta, GA

[ronchelednik]

Display confidence, ask questions, don't be I know it all, don't be lazy, ask what can I do for you to your preceptor or instructor, breath, remember people especially family are scared and full of uncertainty in the ICU a smile goes a long way. Take a good look at yourself and ask yourself this question a couple times a day, "what can I do better?" Enjoy the experience and always remember you belong their don't let anyone tell you different.

[RubyBelle26]

Everything ronchelednik said, for sure!

Have confidence and loads initiative. I used my nursing school scrubs as permission to ask anything/go behind closed curtains if something good was happening (with permission of course--but a curious mind will rarely hear "no", which I still find to be true in the ICU). I cannot express this enough, but ask to be able to watch any bedside procedures going on in any of the rooms, as you likely may not get to see them again on other units, ie emergent intubations, CPR/code blue situations--ask to do compressions if you're allowed, cardioversions, TTEs, EEGs, PA-catheter insertions, chest tubes...everything! Even if it's post-mortem care--do it and learn from it.

Even with the most basic nursing skills, you'll have tons of opportunity for practice. Practice foley/IV/NG or OG tube insertions. Vital sign, EKG, and lab interpretation in reference to your patients diagnosis.

Take in the environment, as it can be easily overwhelming. So many lines, tubes, beeping and ringing. So many different specialties roaming the halls. Each patient room can be an incredibly different experience--medications hanging, bedside procedures being performed. Seeing an intubated pt scared me--it actually crossed my mind that if I so much as touched that pt, I would kill him. And then my preceptor had me turn him, then practice the in-line suction for the first time, and i recall thinking "omg I'm going to kill him!", but I didn't, and neither will you.

Unless you'll be working with patients on seizure precaution or where ICP is being monitored (some MICU, NeuroICU, trauma ICU normally), touching the patient shouldn't do anything to harm him.

Best of luck to you!