What are the key ICU issues for a new grad?

[Roland]

She finally has some interviews (three) over the next several week. One is in the ACC and this is not her first choice since they handle two patients and have really bad trauma cases the manager said six plus IV's is not uncommon (the hospital being a level one trauma center). The second is in the CVCC, and I don't really know much about the unit specifics except that the manager seemed nice on the phone. The final unit is at a large teaching hospital and has the advantage of having a one to one ratio. However, according to the manager they deal with alot of end of life issues and the nurses often administer some sort of continuous dialysis. I'm pushing her towards that unit with the thinking that one patient (no matter how sick they may be) is easier than two. According to my analysis it would be better to work there and then transfer to the ACC or CVCC after a year, and when she will have ACLS, PALS, and vent classes under her belt and be working on her CCRN .

Obviously, the preceptor training period is crucial to ask about. However, no one is going to say "yea we don't have much training here and are going to just throw you out on the floor to rot." Rather, all talk instead about their extensive training and support. In all fairness all of the ICU's fall under the same parent company.