Want to work in ICU

Specialties Critical

Published

Hi, I have been off the Medical Surgical floor for a year, but I have been pursuing my BSN. I will be done wiht my BSN by the end of December, and I really want to work in ICU. I have looked at different hospitals job openings for the ICU area and all of them say they want experience. How do I get experience? Advice?

Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Room.

What have you been doing while earning your BSN?

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I spend most of my time studying & taking care of the home. I did apply to PCU last year but didn’t get the position. I haven’t tried applying anywhere else. It’s been difficult year due to my sister’s unexpected passing & I’ve been focusing on school. School does take up a lot of my time. I have 7 more weeks & done.

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Room.

How many months of nursing experience did you have before taking a break? What units?

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I worked on the Medical Surgical floor for two years. I worked full time which made it difficult to take BSN courses and they would not let me go part time or PRN because of being short staffed. Miss being on the floor. I loved working with the patients and miss being busy. I love Med Surg but I have a critical care type of mind set. I'm the nurse who was always running into codes versus running away. The nurses would always tell me to apply to CC but at the time I didn't feel confident in myself and stayed within my comfort zone. I'm going to get my EKG & ACLS certificate after I complete my BSN. I'm feeling hopeful and will keep working hard and I know I will get where I want to be because I am determined. I don't think I will ever stop growing and pushing myself. I think obstacles occur in life for a reason such as helping someone determine how bad they want something. I see you have been in CC for 29 years. What do you like about CC? Dislike?

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Room.

You will want to get your stroke cert. I think that your application should be refined to get attention. Your 2 years of nursing will look strong with written or phone references from those supervisors, charge nurses or managers. Those will be very important.

It was a good idea to get your BSN.

Critical care is very exciting. It demands a lot and forces you to be very organized and fast while remaining situationally sensitive to families. I also work closely with doctors and that collaboration is good for me and I think for other nurses.

If your previous employer has records of your varicella TB etc get those. Study an IV drug book and review vasopressors, sedation and pain gtts.

Finally look for an ICU training program. Are you wiling to relocate?

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Hi, I appreciate your feedback and will put my manager down as reference when filling out applications. I will also look into stroke certification as well. I'm going to be very busy after school too...lol. It's ok because I love it. I'm looking at MSN afterwards but want to take it one step at a time. I want to get experience on the job too. I'm an organization junkie and I know I'm not programmed for a desk job. Thank you for giving me more information. I strongly believe in team work and collaboration. Patients depend on heathcare providers to communication and work together for the common good of patient safety and satisfaction. What drug IV book do you prefer? I need to get an updated one. ICU training program would be a dream! Right now, I will keep looking for position in IL near Glen Ellyn IL Relocating at this time is not an option for me but do plan on relocating to AZ in the future. Where are you from?

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Room.

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If it were me I would look at jobs at major hospitals with commuting distance. An ICU training program can be a big commitment and frequently they will expect you to stay there for 2 years post training. I would also pay a personal visit to each of the hospitals who are recruiting or have such a program. If you can walk the unit. If you bump into a supervisor be prepared to say hi, who you are why you're there and what you're looking for. Face to face is always a good way despite the emphasis on on line applications which can also do e.g. "I put in an application....". Your edge up is your two years of experience (what type of med center was the med surgical in?) You're not a new grad....you're studying the drugs will help get you ready to talk with them. Finally, trust your intuition on your walk throughs....If the ICU door is locked you'll have to get a bit creative...

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Specializes in IR.

I recently accepted an offer for a surgical trauma ICU in the city and I am ecstatic. I have about 1.5 years of acute care experience, mostly in IR, but also floated voluntarily to med/surg and ICU during covid for assistive shifts and in that time learned alot. I was able to use this to supplement my IR experience (which is zero bedside and can be tricky when you want to move to an ICU) and put alot of emphasis on this experience and that it was voluntary during my interview to show that I am motivated and OK with being challenged. I absolutely do not have the typical experience they look for, but was able to highlight some key strengths and was also persistent. I think I applied to this particular unit at least 3 times over the last 10ish months. There's also a nursing shortage... so now is the time to act and apply to the units that you really love even though you may fall short of the qualifications. I always say, let them decide if they think you are qualified to work on their unit. 

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