What is a typical day/week like for an ICU Nurse?

[texag2005]

Hey all,

I am currently working in business world after graduating from college a couple years ago, but have really felt a calling to go into health care. As a result, I am currently working on my prereqs for nursing school and hope to enter a BSN program soon. One area I am very interested in is working in ICU. It sounds extremely fast paced and challenging and really looks to challenge you to continually increase your overall nursing/medical knowledge.

In helping gain a better understanding of what a normal day is like for an ICU nurse, I was wondering if any of you could provide some insight into what you deal with in the ICU on a day to day basis. Of course I hope both good and bad experiences as I hope to be well educated about what my chosen specialty will be by the time I graduate.

Thanks!

[RNperdiem, RN]

During your schooling, consider a part-time job as a unit secretary or nursing assistant. You will really see what goes on, and you will make useful contacts.

I found ICU actually slower paced than med-surg. Here is the basic framework of my day:

0630: park and start walking to work. There is no close parking on University campuses, so possible delays + walk must be factored in.

0700: Charge nurse brings report sheet to conference room, reads quickly the names of the patients+ diagnoses+a few facts, then she gives everyone their assignments.

0705: Get report at the nurses station from the night nurses about my patients. I will either have 2 stable or 1 complex/unstable patient.

0720: Begin assessments, check alarms, check pumps, check equipment, listen to doctors' plan for the day on rounds, bring up any concerns the doctors need to know about, mentally plan my own patient goals for the day.

0900: Give meds. I hang a lot of antibiotics, potassium, magnesium and any new drugs ordered.

I will chart every 2 hours, turn patients every 2 hours, do a full head to toe assessment every 2 hours, give mouth care, let family in to visit, handle new problems (hypotension, bleeding, respiratory problems) until the end of the shift when I give report to the night nurses.

[RNFELICITY]

Is there such a thing as a typical day? lol

I guess there are routine things that we do every day like get report give report go on road trips with our patients to CT/MRI etc.

A typical shift for me usually involves a lot of time spent with both the family and patient getting to know them and being able to understand what it is they need to hear from me or learn from me. It is figuring out what is going on with my patient and anticipating what is going to happen next. You really have to be proactive and not reactive to things.

We start our shift by gathering in the report room to receive our assignment and get a quick overview of the patients on the floor and especially those within our pod. Then we head out onto the unit to receive a more detailed report from the off going nurse. We assess our patients Q2 hours and as needed and vitals and I&O's are Q1 hour as well as neuro checks and whatever specialized equipment they might have. Charting is done Q2 hours and as needed. Med passes tend to occur all night long. Blood sugars vary depending ont he patient. We are turning and repositioning Q2 hrs and as needed with peri-care and toileting along the way. baths are given.

All in all, I guess there is a bit of routine in the night but there is always time for those emergencies. Plus we respond to things happening on the unit to patients besides just the ones we are assigned to.