TICU Resource Suggestions

[garciwarsi]

Hello all!

I am a recent grad looking to get into critical care, specifically trauma ICU. I'm wondering if any of you have suggestions for a good textbook/resource for critical care nursing. Basically something that I can use to for reference material. Trauma specific would be great, but ultimately anything critical care works.

Thank you!

[NPOaftermidnight, MSN, RN, NP]

Good for you!! I started in a level 1 surgical/trauma ICU as a new grad back in July. I found http://www.icufaqs.org to be a great resource before I started. It is not trauma specific - I believe the writers are actually from a MICU - but it's a lot of great ICU info. Some topics that will definitely come in handy would be Pressors/Vasoactives, Arterial Lines, Vents and ABGs, Sedation and Paralysis - but really everything here would be helpful. I've also heard that CCRN review books can a good way for new ICU nurses to learn but I haven't tried any myself. I would also suggest looking into ACLS - I will be taking mine through work in a couple months but if you are looking for an edge that could help. Good luck!

[JUSTanLPN]

What a great reply. Thanks Brooke. I've got critical care made incredibly easy and I've been reading over icufaq.com. If anything else comes up let us know! We need all the help we can get

[jm394, RN, CRNA]

For a more in-depth but still readable resource, check out The ICU Book by Marino. It changed my thinking about so much in critical care. For trauma specific, look into the TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course) class. It's put on by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), but was a good introduction to trauma care.

[luckynurse_1234]

I just started in trauma so I bought Nurse to Nurse Trauma Care: Expert Interventions by Donna Nayduch, and I highly recommend it. I already owned Critical Care Nursing: Demystified and the Little ICU Book by Paul Marino. For me, personally, I thought found both of those books to be too general when it came to trauma. Nayduch's book is 100% trauma and it breaks it down by specific types of trauma to each body system. For me, it's like having an experienced preceptor and textbook all rolled into one. And it's pocket-sized, not bulky.