Thinking of going into ICU nursing

[mysticalwaters1]

Ever since my mother was in an ICU for 3 months and then transfering to another hospital and back home I allways thought I would like to get into ICU nursing. NOt ccu, the complex medical pt.

I've been working on a Resperatory/med surg floor for 2 years now. I get lots of the copders, some vents occasionally and many of the elderly population that cannot care for themselves at all. My floor is refered to as the nursing home sometimes. However we do get complicated patients at times with mutlisystem proplems. I do not get many surgical pts so I do not have a hole lot of experience with those pts and actually would not care for strict surgical floor all the time. While I found the complex medical pt's very interesting it was very frustrating trying to deal with them and then the other 5-6 pts I had and the crazy demented pt pulling out ivs.

Also one of the ICU nurses I most admired and took excellent care of my mom actually tried to convince me not to go through with nursing. She ultimately left the ICU and has her masters and works with some quality assurance area or something. Now she was awesome but that freaked me out. I feel I am smart. I have allways been very detailed. I am very frustrated on the med surg floor. I freak b/c our pt ratio changed from 1:6 with 2 techs on a 29 bed floor to sicker more turnover pts 1:7 and that includes replacing d/cs with admissions. I'm freaking b/c I've heard other hospitals have a larger ratio including some ICUs with ratio 1:5. I don't believe those our just tele I think they are full ICU pts. I don't have time to be very detailed anymore. I am very frustrated. I am turning nasty b/c I can't stand the floor anymore. I need a change.

I am just curious why some of you went into ICU and how long you all have been working there. Is the burnout worse in ICU or Med surg? I guess it's different for everyone but I think I would like a change from my 7pts to our hospital ICU ratio of 1:3 and being VERY detailed with just those pts. I don't want it to turn into how I feel about my med surg job. Maybe it would be very different. I am very sensitive but have been learning to fight for what I need and what is right for the pt. I do get frazzeled and one nurse says I'd be eaten alive up in icu. Now I DO get frazzeled but I get my work done. Now I know I'll cry many times trying to do an ICU position but I am determinded to do it and do my job well as I have done on my med surg floor. My first preceptor agrees with me. Any input would be greatly appreciated.