Stress levels in ICU/CCU

[GomerPyle]

i need some feedback regarding the stress levels of icu as compared to a med/surge floor? likes and dislikes?

i'm getting burned out already in med/surge after only 9 mos the 8-9 pt assignments from 7p-7a are starting to wear on this noob rn. i know in my heart that i'm no where near ready to move into the unit with my limited knowledge, however, that time will come eventually.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Mano!

You need to come down to the action in "The Pit*!"

"The Pit" is where it's all at! From 'I have this rash on my foot for the past three months' to 'pt. presented to "The Pit" post multiple GSWs and MVC (auto Vs pedestrian)'.

All that and more.

From 10 day old babies to 106 yr old gramps.

You could go from squirting saline flushes on each other to pass the time... to managing 2 intubated pts., a patient having an acute stroke and a female with a possible ectopic pregnancy .... all in the span of an hour (or less, if you're lucky!)

Never a dull moment!

cheers,

* "The Pit" a.k.a. The Emergency Department.

[lfdelarosa]

lol my husband is an ER nurse too, he says his personal favorites are the ones who come in complaining of abdominal pain with an onset of about 4 weeks, my husband says....seriously?!....in 4 weeks you couldnt get a doctors appointment? and in 4 weeks you decided 3am was the best time to come in?