Student seeking ICU advice

[RNMeg]

I'm a BSN student in my third semester. I'm under contract with a local hospital to work for them for a period of time after I graduate. This week, they're holding an open house/recruitment get-together. I really want to work in the ICU as a new grad, but I'm not sure what to say or ask to be memorable to the ICU manager. I know all the usual things..dress professionally, firm handshake, speak clearly, smile..but is there anything else I should know? Is it difficult (or even advisable) for a new grad to get into ICU? This particular hospital hires a lot of new grads, so I would expect a good new grad training program. I appreciate any feedback you have (and also appreciate those of you who read this far!) :loveya:

[NursingAgainstdaOdds]

I think I would enjoy Med/Surg nursing..I certainly enjoyed my Med/Surg I clinical rotation. My concern, though, is that I'm under contract at this particular hospital (they're paying my tuition in full in exchange for work when I graduate) and there are terrible rumors about this particular hospital's med/surg unit. Every nurse I've told I'm working there after graduation has told me to avoid med/surg there. The nurses there are unhappy, unfulfilled, unsupported, and it's generally a toxic environment. If I were contracted with any other hospital, I would be happy to work Med/Surg first and then step into ICU. However, because of the Med/Surg situation there, I think it would be better for me to avoid that work environment altogether (it can't be a good learning environment if it's a bad working environment!) and just start where my ultimate goal is (that is, if the unit offers new grad jobs, of course :)). To answer the question above, no, I'm not looking at CRNA school, though I have the utmost respect for those that are/do. Someday I might go on to FNP, but for now, I just want to be a bedside RN

LOL, I'm fairly certain that's the med/surg situation everywhere. Granted, some are worse than others ... in general, it is a highly thankless, unglamorous area, and there are much fewer resources in med/surg. I work in a telemetry unit where I've often heard experienced travellers tell me "this is the WORST place I have ever worked!". I am a firm believer in making the best of a difficult situation, and have been told I am stubbornly positive. True, and guess what? I like my job! I started in med/surg because I am very much a believer in starting with "the basics", before moving on to an area which is more complicated with more machinery, equipment, and specialties. Now I feel I have a solid foundation of nursing skills, organization, and time management with which to move on to what I have always strived for, which is working in an ED.

I've never been a "put my year in" kinda person, so I'm sticking around until my life's in a good place to change specialties. Right now I get my emergency fix via an EMT course I am taking, and subsequently through volunteer ambulance service. My plan is to move on to the ED once I get a little EMT experience in.

[Batman24]

My hospital requires us to work M/S before moving to ICU or the OR. My M/S unit is fantastic and we have tons of support from management. The nurses are excellent and some have been working this floor for years with no desire to leave it. I have garnered tons of knowledge learning from these nurses.

We also have wonderful CNAs who always help out and doctors who value our assessment skills and education. It's very much a team environment.

M/S can be a really tough unit as we deal with so many patients with so many different problems which makes it not just challenging but also a great place to learn a diversified set of skills.