Starting ICU in less than a month

[niko1999 RN BSN]

And to be honest, I am scared ********. I've been a nurse for almost 5 years now, and have worked on some med surg floors, but I'm still shaking at the knees to think of what I will be going to (top NH hospital, teaching hospital ect.) I'm excited by the prospect of what I am about to get into (this has been a dream job and dream hospital of min for years), but I'm scared that I don't know enough' that I'm going to mess up royally, and it won't be a good fit (again, because it is where I have wanted for so many years, I am especially afraid of the grass is greener on the other side aspect). So, is there anything I should study up on before I start to help me be more comfortable and confident? Thanks!

[lassenlake]

Know your drugs. Here are a few.

Dopamine, Dobutamine, Phenylephrine, Levophed, Digoxin, Lasix, Cardizem, Amiodorone.

Study these up and down.

[ICUNurseG]

Disease processes & their to such as septic shock, MI, COPD, etc. it wouldn't hurt to review ACLS also, even though you'll have to go through the class before you can officially use it. Hypothermia after cardiac arrest is another good one to study. When you get one, even in orientation, you'll be too busy to learn details. Know why you do it and indications/contraindications. Everything else should be in your hospitals policy or protocols.

[Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN]

Its really not that big of a deal. I will tell you now that the grass is NEVER greener on the other side. Things are and will always be different not matter where you go. I went from a small community hospital to one of the top 5 hospitals in the nation and I mistakenly thought things were going to be amazing, incredible, blah blah blah...Well i learned very quickly that things weren't any better. Don't get me wrong, the level of care and the caliber of doctors is very very different. But the same ICU politics and nonsense will still be there, so don't think you'll ever escape that. Policies and procedures will be different and some things will make you say '*****' But you learn to live with things and you'll survive and do just fine. Study the drugs the poster above me mentioned and depending on what ICU you'll be in, study swans waveforms and pressures. Maybe some pathophys of common diseases/disorders just to refresh yourself. You'll do fine, just keep an open mind and don't let old salty nurses scare you or break you down.

[Julesmama28]

Learn about dka too, it's a big one we see. Learn the drugs, learn the vents, working with og/ng tubes, full assessments...

[MYSTICOOKIEBEAR]

First of all, take a deep breath...............you're going to be fine.

Going to the unit is a very big step and you will have a lot more responsibility and autonomy. It is rather difficult to prepare for the units because it is your experiences that will help define you. When you go on orientation, soak it all in, and ask for the most difficult patients, that's what I did. I did this because I wanted to have experience with the really sick people while I had someone there guiding me rather than having that really sick patient when I was on my own . My preceptors hated me for that btw haha. Also write down all of the questions that you have each and every day and then either look it up/research it, or ask someone who does know the answer and write it down.

The one thing that you can do is look up your medications specific to the ICUs. I made a video a while back to help newer Critical Care RNs with pressors and pressor like medications since it is something that we use so much, but is not extremely well understood by a majority of ICU nurses. [video=youtube;hiI-8GV-kBk]

[kh2488]

Did you guys have to do critical care course prior to starting? Was there an exam? If so was it hard? Sorry for all the questions. I offered an icu job but requires to pass the cc course exam to get the job.