What to expect on CICU?

Congrats! icufaqs.com is a great place to start.

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I second the icufaqs.com suggestion. Don't spend a whole lot of money on reference books right now -- wait and see what the hospital gives you to study when you go through your critical care classes. A CCRN reference book is always worthwhile, though. You can use to to look stuff up now and to study for your CCRN later.

What to expect? Anything and everything between patient reported chest pain at home, but hasn't had any since up through an evolving red hot infarction in front of your eyes, to post major attack on an IABP balloon pump, intubated, and probably on a hyporthermia protocol. Yeah, being nervous is normal, but you'll do fine!

I love my CCRN book and my Kathy White fast fact binder

icufaq's.org is a great site

I often use that site to explain something to an orientee. Sometimes it's easier for me to show them the page that refers to their particular question, then talk about it after they've read it.

Lilsnfrn, is there a chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN) in your area (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses)? If so, I suggest joining and attending chapter meetings and events whenever time permits. You will establish valuable relationships with colleagues, and also have access to worthwhile educational opportunities. If there is not an active chapter nearby, consider joining the AACCN anyway. Their journal, Critical Care Nurse (Critical Care Nurse) is a must have. AACCN also provides very good conferences and online continuing education. (PS: No, I do not have any financial interest AACCN. I wish I did, but, unfortunately, I will not make a nickel for offering this suggestion, darn it.)

Thank you all for all of your suggestions!

Hey congrats, I've been working in an ccicu for 2, all I can tell you is that if you just want to make it stick to what your preceptor will teach you and and other c workers but if you really like nursing n got into nursing for right reasons, the real learning takes place in your free time, read and read and read as much as you can about critical care when your at home, read about pharmacology, and the major things in an icu so when it happens to you you lo have the k now ledge bc the experience will come to.you as you work there every day.

Just to.start be familiar with acls, ami, your rytm strip and abnormal strip and their treatment s, most commonly used drips, ekg leads, and familiar with most commonly protocols that should help.

I don't believe most of the learning takes place on the job. I agree with the previous poster who advises you to study and read as much as you can in your free time. If you fail to do that type of learning you will never make the cut in ICU. It requires an immense amount of "book learning" and honestly somewhat less "hands on". For all of your first year you should eat, sleep, and breath intensive care. It's a field that cannot be taken lightly. Good luck

Definitely start reading ahead but some things may be a little difficult for you to understand if you've never worked in an ICU such as the hemodynamic monitoring and terminology associated with it. The didactic education will provide you with a good basis for understanding most of the concepts you will need to know and master. Your clinical training will further help you gain the experience you will need to progress from novice beginner to competent. ICU as any thing new in nursing tends to be a little frightening and overwhelming but as time passes, you will do fine. I remember when I first started in the ICU, I remember thinking how am I going to absorb all of this information and be able to practice alone. You will definintely get there.

I'm currently in my first year of CRNA school and it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Yes it's a lot of information but I love the way how our program is setup. I'm currently maintaining an A average and I know I will graduate and be prepared to fully function as a CRNA. After a year or two will pass, you will think back over how far you have progressed.

Good luck and wish you the best in the CICU.

It's funny to me that multiple ICU nurses are pointing you towards the ICUfaqs website. It really is a great source for learning the ICU and difficult concepts. I'm one of those people that breezed through nursing school and hardly studied and could score A's or B's on the tests. I say that to say that for the ICU, I had to study, and still study to this day. I'm studying for the CCRN now and learning new things every day. I listen to podcasts like "ICU Rounds", read up on ICUfaqs, look in ICU reference books, watch Med School vent teaching video's on youtube, etc. There is always more to learn as an ICU nurse and you will be expected to stay ahead of the curve. If you are willing to work for it you can have it.