Step-down ICU (IMC) or straight to ICU?

[libbyjeanne]

Hello all!

I have a question that I am sure you hear all the time. I have been in Med Surg for almost a year now. Soon, I will be moving to a different state and I have been thinking, maybe it is time that I work with more critical patients. I have learned a lot on Med Surg, but I just feel like I want more sick patients and more focused care. With Med Surg I feel like I am taking care of a bunch of patients, documenting on them, and fixing problems when they arise. My coworkers have pointed out to me, that I seem to be enjoying myself when I have problems arise and my patients need more care than they typically need on M/S. I have always dreamed of being an ICU nurse, but I was too chicken to start out there as a new grad.

So here is my question, should I do a step-down ICU floor first? Or try to score a training bid in ICU? Any and all opinions are definently welcomed.

Thank you very much.

[detroitdano]

Go big or go home I always say

[porterwoman]

I did 2.5 yrs med surg, then almost a year of stepdown, then moved on to ICU. It worked well for me. In the stepdown unit, we had stable trach/vent pts, art lines, did CVPs, did a few critical care drips, & central monitoring--which all helped lessen the learning curve once I got into ICU.

[libbyjeanne]

Thanks for the advice! I still have a few months to think about it.

"go big or go home"

[LoveActually]

As Nike says, Just Do it!

"Go big or go home"

[ICU456]

Go big or go home I always say

Ooh, I like this...may I borrow it from time-to-time ;-)