Starting in ICU next week as a CNA

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Specializes in LTC, Telemetry.

Hi ladies and Gents!!Hope you don;t mind me jumping in here.

I am starting a new chapter in my life next week as a CNA in the ICU. My background is 13 years experience mainly LTC, telemetry and home health.

Can any of you give me pointers as 1)what to expect and 2)what the nurses will want me to do.

I am a bit nervous about all the additional lines that ICU patients have in though , like the vents and such.

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.I am so excited to get to be a part of the critical care team.

Nervous nelly,

Kerrie :bowingpur

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

Welcome to AN Kerrie!

Listen, ask questions, be a sponge (soak up as much knowledge as you can)

I am sure you will go through a thorough orientation. The nurses will help you when ever you have questions. My best advice is: if you do not know something, ALWAYS ask questions. Remember, no question is a dumb question.

Every new job has it's stress, but there is no need to feel overwhelmed. There are many IV lines and extra machines, monitors, vents etc... in the ICU, but don't be scared of them, but respect them.

Always ask questions if you are not sure what you are supposed to do.

Good Luck!

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Hi ladies and Gents!!Hope you don;t mind me jumping in here.

I am starting a new chapter in my life next week as a CNA in the ICU. My background is 13 years experience mainly LTC, telemetry and home health.

Can any of you give me pointers as 1)what to expect and 2)what the nurses will want me to do.

I am a bit nervous about all the additional lines that ICU patients have in though , like the vents and such.

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.I am so excited to get to be a part of the critical care team.

Nervous nelly,

Kerrie :bowingpur

Make sure your CPR is up to date. Very important (obviously).

When I work ICU, I start my day first by checking the pt's. Then I go straight to the computer and make my own notes regarding diet, code status, activities, etc. I keep this with me at all times. I also check how often vitals are needed. The nurses program the monitors to automatically take vitals at set intervals, but I like to physically go in and get them. If I have time, I'll go through the pt's history to get an idea of what brought them to the ICU. I also file labs, xray reports, page dr's, etc. Our ICU does not have a unit secretary so the aide and the nurse work together to get paperwork filed, phones answered and all that time consuming stuff that takes away from the bedside.

I try to listen to the nurse's report if I'm not busy. I like to know if they're titrating IV meds, if there's a family situation that is less than ideal. I then tell the nurse to let me know when she's ready to do am care. I answer phones if I can. I find things for dr's. I stock supplies at the bedside - this for me is very important because in an emergency the last thing you want to be looking for is an IV start kit or extra tubing.

If possible, arrive early or stay late and familiarize yourself with the stock room.

If the nurses are busy, I sit and watch the monitors. I'm not qualified to read strips or anything, but I can hear alarms and notify the nurse. NEVER depend on monitors. If the monitor says the pt's O2 sat is 60% but you check the pt and he's pink, alert, etc then obviously the finger probe is not properly attached or there is an equipment failure.

Nurses will want you to get vitals, accuchecks (if allowed in your state), answer phones if able, fax, direct visitors, assist doctors with setting up bedside procedures, and of course ADL's.

I don't do too much with vents, bipaps, etc. If an alarm goes off I'll check it and if needed I'll notify the nurse. Just be careful when turning pt's that you are aware of where the lines are.

I LOVE ICU. Good luck!

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I also write down on paper vitals. I learned the hard way when I charted vitals on a very critical pt and the computer ate what I charted. I always keep a backup of important data.

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Specializes in SICU.

Welcome to the ICU. What you will be doing will depend on your state, the hospital and even the individual icu that you will be in. Find out what they want when you start working there. Stocking, turning and bathing is probably standard in most.

If getting vitals is part of your duties don't take it personal if some nurses don't want you to do theirs. Icu nurses can be control freaks, it wont be about you.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

you know reading this gave me a good idea...i think working in the icu as a tech is a great idea...do they let lvn's work in tech positions . i think that would be a great learning experience. i am so tired of where i am and want a change....congrats to you...

hi ladies and gents!!hope you don;t mind me jumping in here.

i am starting a new chapter in my life next week as a cna in the icu. my background is 13 years experience mainly ltc, telemetry and home health.

can any of you give me pointers as 1)what to expect and 2)what the nurses will want me to do.

i am a bit nervous about all the additional lines that icu patients have in though , like the vents and such.

any advice would be so greatly appreciated.i am so excited to get to be a part of the critical care team.

nervous nelly,

kerrie :bowingpur

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

Welcome to the ICU! In my unit CNA's/Techs are not responsible for vitals or accuchecks..I mean we do vitals q1 hr so there is no way that our 1 or 2 aides could do that on 18 patients every hour! What I love in my tech's is when they are willing to help no matter what. I mean there is a lot of turning and cleaning of patients. Helping the ones that do eat get their food, they always ask first...I LOVE THAT!! Help give baths..it gets more complicated with the lines and the vent and all that fun stuff so 4 hands is definately better than 2! Please ask lots of questions, about anything. I would much rather answer your question, then have you not really know what is going on.

Please like a pp said, do not take it personal if a nurse does not want you to do vitals or something like that, alot of us are a little anal, and when I am at work I am kinda in a zone...not trying to ignore you, just thinking, but please remember we are there to help you, just as much as you are there to help us!! Good Luck!!

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Specializes in SICU.

good luck....and pick the nurses and doc brains.....they'll like it and you'll benefit.

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Specializes in LTC, Telemetry.

Thanks guys!!!!

:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.

wow...A CNA in an ICU...wish we had one of you guys...lol.

I started out many years ago as a CNA and loved it then I got the nursing bug and here I am.

I think you have gotten a lot of good advice already adn I am not sure I can add much to it.

Just relax and learn and enjoy the opportunity to be a part of possibly saving someone's life or sitting with them in their final moments.

It can be a rapid fire day or night so don't let your feelings get hurt if the nurses are a bit short with you under pressure...they don't mean it. We are anal beings and mostly adrenaline junkies.

Have a blast!

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