How strongly do you recommend a nurse residency program for ICU new grads?
I give it a one. I'm a firm believer in a year of med/surg prior to any residencies. Med/Surg teaches new nurses so much in time management, assessment skills, team work. Going right into ICU causes more damage than good (in my humble opinion). Never underestimate the power of med/Surg, and I am a critical care nurse.
My first and only job upon graduation was in CCU. I have thrived in this environment. You will need to learn your medications and be willing to spend your off time researching any and all topics you are not familiar with. I’ve been told by older CCU nurses that it’s best to start in critical care straight away. That way the habits you develop will be appropriate to your unit. As a side note, I have tried to recruit several med/surg nurses that I feel would be an asset to our unit, with no luck. Charge nurses will fight to keep their M/S nurses. I’ve had one go as far as writing up a nurse for considering it. (You can’t transfer at my hospital unless you have
6 months with no infractions). Don’t get stuck in med surg. If you feel confident in your abilities, go for it.
I absolutely support a nurse residency program if one is available. The critically ill are even more ill than many years ago! So much to learn & absorb! Many facilities will not have in any other way. Those who do not have a residency, often require at least 1-2 years med / Surg experience before going into ICU!
Remember - accept any free education & training you are offered - only makes you a better nurse!!
I have no problem with a strong motivated new grad going to the ICU if they are willing to put the work in. I orientated many new grads in my ICU with great success. The only thing is they had to go home and study and review the medications and procedures that we went over each day. It was 4 months of intensive training. If it’s what your really want you will succeed with a lot of effort.
I greatly recommend nurse residency for ICU new grads. This is where you get your experience and learn all you can. Once you get ICU down as your foundation it will open a lot of doors for your career in Nursing. ICU is your most important foundation.
Starting as a new grad in the icu and have completed a new grad residency myself, I highly recommend starting at a hospital that has such program to help build upon the knowledge we learned in nursing school as well as learn about skills specific to ICU.
Very strongly recommended. I started in ICU by myself at night. Did have some orientation. A longer term residency would have been much more beneficial. I did some time (a Tatar or so) later have an ACLS class.
Strongly recommend
I would highly recommend it especially now when a new grad’s clinical experience has been so disruptive with COVID. I just met a new grad whose senior preceptorship was observation only. New grads need the structure and support of a residency.
On a scale of 1 - 10 where 1 is that it's not recommended at all and 10 where you'd be an idiot if you didn't, 10.
the nurse residency program is experience, you have to work on the floors for the most knowledge to move up to a critical care area. I have worked with new grads and there is a lot of information they seem to miss. Especially when working with lines and vaso active medications. There will always be an ICU just start at the med surge unit and learn the in-depth basics. Know your rhythm and there associated to medical problems. There is just so much to say i could stay here all day and never hit the same advice twice.
