Tips for New Grad offered ICU position

[gmsal971]

Hi, I have been offered a position for ICU nights. I am a new grad, and even though this is something I have wanted, and was chosen for after my interview, now I am nervous about how I am going to do. Does anyone have any advice/tips etc. about what a new grad should or needs to know going into the ICU? Or specific things I should be brushing up on? Any advice would be really appreciated. I have read other reviews of new grad orientation being 5+ months long.. my "new grad orientation" consists of 1 week general nursing orientation of the hospital, and then 8-12 wks on the floor with a preceptor. I think that short time is something that is making me nervous too just because it seems other facilities have longer programs.. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated! TIA :)

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

I started as a new grad in the NICU and had about 14 weeks total orientation but they divided it into 2 "sections." I started off with the bigger, more stable babies (about 6 weeks of orientation) and then did a second round of orientation with the critical care babies (about 8 weeks).

Pay attention. Ask questions. Seek out new learning opportunities. Hopefully you'll have a good preceptor who will ask around the unit to see if there is anything interesting going on like IV starts, intubations, hanging blood products, etc.

Good luck! You'll learn so much!