What does an ICU nurse do exactly?

Specialties MICU

Published

Can you please tell me what the regular routine or functions or duties of ICU nurses?

Is there a lot of cleaning after patients? Or is it more in the technical and mechanical field of nursing?

Specializes in New Grad.

These are some really great descriptions of being an ICU nurse...and you have all mentioned how busy taking care of two patients can be...I am a new grad and interested in the ICU....can any of you please tell me what you do when taking care of your two patients is more than you can handle? Can you tell me how to prioritize and delegate? What can you delegate to the Charge Nurse? The Respiratory Therapist? Is there usually a tech or aide? DO you delegate to other RNs on the floor even thought they have patients of their own?

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Specializes in ICU.

The answers to these questions tend to be very unit-specific. As a new grad, you should ONLY work on a unit with great, supportive team members. I would say that is the number 1 thing to look for when you interview. There is no quicker way to sink when you're new in ICU then working with nurses who are not 100% on your side and looking out for you. No if's, and's, or but's about it.

As for the rest, sometimes there are aides and sometimes not. 99% of time on my unit, there is no aide, we do it ourselves, but we do have an awesome team that will help you whenever they can. In the last year, I can only think of 1 or 2 instances where I needed immediate help and had to manage on my own, and that was only because there were multiple other patients crashing all at the same time. Even still, we made it work.

No one can teach you have to prioritize; you have to learn it yourself, and it really depends on the patient's situation. ICU nurses tend to be picky about things looking neat and clean, but when you're patient's losing their airway or their blood pressure, it doesn't matter that their pajamas are from yesterday and the bed linens haven't been changed. Be prepared to make a plan, then change it immediately. But make the plan anyway, because occasionally things go the way you expect! :) (And it's very exciting when that happens...a cause for celebration, really!) Also in terms of prioritizing, learn to think of yourself, too. YOU are a priority. Your charting is a priority, for example, so that you can go home on time. Fit it into your day. MAKE time for the things YOU need to do to get your job done and done well.

And as for time management, you have to learn that one for yourself, too. I think a lot of the pressure on new grads is self-imposed. (At least it was for me.) Remember: this is a 24 hour job and it IS okay to pass things on to the next shift, even if they whine. You simply cannot do it all in 12 hours, end of story. Of course, people will sniff you out quickly if you are being lazy. :) Technical skills like IV starts, suctioning, etc, will be slow at first, but soon you will be amazed at how quickly you can accomplish these things. It just takes time and patience with yourself.

Good luck!

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

this is a quick good read from icufaqs.org

http://www.icufaqs.org/narrative.doc

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I am a new grad looking for my first job, and was thinking of the CCU because it was the rotation I really loved in nursing school. I loved giving my all to two or three patients, and am good about staying calm when things go south (a trait I developed from raising teenagers!). But I am painfully aware of my lack of clinical experience and don't want to endanger patients....so wondered if it was something I shouldn't attempt until after I get more med/surg experience. I'd be grateful for anyone's input...

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

This is a good thread. It really really reinforces that this is what I want to do when I finish school.

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Specializes in MICU.

NewRNAllie: I'm a new grad as well and just got hired onto a MICU and the training is going to be the important thing. If your hospital is good you will get good training and they won't set you on your own without an evaluation and everyone thinking that you are ready. So if it is what you want to do (as it was for me) go for it!

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Hi ablight,

Do you know of any hospitals in Vegas that are hiring new graduates right now? I am thinking about moving back to Las Vegas when I graduate this semester with my wife and family. Any info would be appreciated.

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Specializes in MICU.
unlvguy said:
Hi ablight,

Do you know of any hospitals in Vegas that are hiring new graduates right now? I am thinking about moving back to Las Vegas when I graduate this semester with my wife and family. Any info would be appreciated.

My advice would be to contact the Nurse mangers in the units you'd like to work at about open positions. I bypassed HR and did this, that is how I got my job. HR's are not very helpful to the new grad looking for work out here. I do know that the St. Rose system has a New Grad Residency program, but I'm not sure when it is.

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Thanks for the info =) Yea I called five different recruiters within a hospital system there, and not one called back. Frustrating!!! but that's how it is just about everywhere now.

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Specializes in MICU, E.R, Med-Surg..

kudos

-MNC_RN- said:
Yeah. That one bugs me. There's actually a reason we only take care of one to two patients and it's not because we're lazy.

Instead of posting the link, I have copied what I once wrote in another post:

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Specializes in MICU, E.R, Med-Surg..

Thank you for this one. really helpful.

ayaksah said:
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