Student entering in critical care rotation

[hoping to be an rn, ADN]

I am a student in my 3rd of 5 semesters and we are doing critical care rotations i really want to excel at clinicals this summer but must admit i feel a little intimidated by all the lines and ventilators any good suggestion from some seasoned pros on doing the best job i can do????? any help would be greatly appreciated....

thanks

[LoraLou]

ask questions! Don't do anything that you feel uncomfortable with, but put yourself in a room where they're doing something you've never seen before. Ask the nurses on the unit to notify you if something if going on in their rooms that would be good for you to see. The more you see and experience the more comfortable you'll feel and you should come out with a lot of good experiences

[KimberRN1]

It's still intimidating when you graduate and start working in the ICU...lol....Hopefully you'll be put with a really good nurse who will teach you alot...by the end of the summer you won't be scared of the vent and the lines, it's just something you get comfortable with after being around it awhile.......I know.. you think if you touch them the vent will fall out...so did I....lol.....Just remember... in the ICU the pt is constantly monitored so if something goes wrong you know it in an instant.....plus you have all those lines to get quick blood work if needed....At first you think oh my God I hate all these lines because they are confusing....then you come to love them because that means a lot of access for new drips and blood draws.....Just ask a lot of question like what the drips are....the vent settings and what they mean etc....check out the diagnosis then look it up at home... you can find some real interesting stuff in the ICU....Best of Luck!!