5 must-know tips for the new ICU nurse

What does a #newnurse in the #ICU need to know when they start?
I offer 5 must-know tips.

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[starrylightz]

I am an ICU year for a little over a year. The first year is hard and then starts to get better. Learning time management while taking care of the sickest patients. It's tough. and not to mention the difficult personalities in the ICU. Ask lots of questions. You are never alone. Ask your resource nurses, respiratory therapists, pod mates questions. There are those that love to teach and others who do not. You will find your people. Educate yourself on the latest tech, vents, EKGs, meds, etc. It will come. and don't forget to ALWAYS Stand up for yourself.

[ashleysalter]

I'm a new grad in an ICU internship! Currently in CVICU and brushing up on EKG interpretation. One of my preceptors in another unit turned me on to this book: Rapid Interpretation of EKG's by Dale Dubin, MD. Definitely recommend it!

[Lemurai]

After 20 yrs in the military the ICU was a breeze stress wise, but I still wasn’t so full of myself to understand that I didn’t know squat. You definitely earn your paycheck but it was worth a couple of grey hairs and getting into CRNA school.

[TheMommaDiary]

right now I am a patient transporter for a big hospital. I have made friends on every floor (e.g. medical icu, surgical icu, floor nurses, post op nurses, all radiology, respiratory, phlebotomists, ER nurses, OR nurses, doctors, surgeons) literally all work of life in a hospital from bottom to top. They all know I am in school to become a RN, so most of them are so excited about it and teach me every little thing. I carry a notepad in my scrub leg so that I can write down important information. These nurses have helped me alot!!!! They are so excited to help me and I couldn't be anymore thankful.

[MetalCranium]

I’m a new grad that started right away in our trauma/post surgical/cardiac/etc ICU as a GN, it’s taken me a whole 4 weeks to start to get my stuff together. It has taken these past 4 weeks to start to get close to the top of the water as far as not being totally drowning my whole shift. My tip is to just go into work everyday, bust ass, and get through it. It just takes time and most nurses understand that ICU is overwhelming and most are there for you as a resource to rely on. Just keep swimming and don’t forget that your patients are people too.

[LunarStarFox]

I love how you did not sugar coat anything, every time you said “don’t know/scared of ect” my brain would auto fill it to “get out, do some other type of nursing ect.” And at the very end you said you are going to have a lot of fun so thank you!

[NurseAllison]

10:41 “you’re about to have a lot of fun”. Hoping you’re right! I’m going from tele to ICU soon.

[dialysisgal]

This is finally my 1st year for my ADN, I am so excited and so bloody nervous. I am one of those people that are scared of everything. I have wanted this since I was a child and I want to be that person that jumps in and makes a difference. I appreciate these vlogs so much, thank you. It feels better to know others are nervous and struggle.

[Ashley-jfqt]

Thank you for your advice, I am starting in September and I am very worried. The more I learn about the ICU by watching videos, reading articles, it helps me develop a sense of how to better prepare myself.

[bongmanding]

Thanks, Sean for sharing these tips with us. I am 20+ years Stepdown nurse and thinking of transitioning to ICU and just thinking about it makes me anxious already - and did I mention that I have 20+years nursing background? Yup, I am still nervous. Will remember your tips.

[broganhogan]

Thank you to Sean and all the incredible ICU nurses and grads here for what you do. And then throw Covid into the mix here on top of it all.

[KaosuAiden]

New Grad RN going into this SICU. I start my first day with my preceptor tomorrow. I am so nervous, but thank you for these tips. Thanks for that last comment too. It calmed my nerves a bit and made me smile.

[jessieb.]

my mom was an ICU nurse. she told me to go into nursing and i said no, mom, i'm going into anthropology. here i am with a BA in anthropology i've decided to go to nursing school. at first i was like, nah, i'm not going to be an ICU nurse, that's too stressful. and what do you know, that's the specialty i'm most interested in. go figure :>

[SixthEstateAZ]

34 years, the notebooks and margin notes are fucking priceless.

[goshsamit]

Hey Sean- I am a new grad offered medical ICU at a major hospital. I’m so excited to learn, but so terrified! Thank you for this video!

[Grtgadspy]

The ICU book is a free pdf download. Lots of valuable info on all the the things you mentioned and then some.

[luigi]

Im transferring from MS to ICU soon. Im a little nervous but i feel like the transition will be ok. I appreciate the tips and material to brush up on.

[mattsteets]

“Rick...ah...wow” had me cackling😂 Thanks for the vid!

[mssmith]

Thank you as always! Love your sense of humor it helps a great deal when processing stressful but real advice

[elenaezhova]

Thank you so very much - started to watch you years ago, still when I came across an issues/challenge I always find something useful tips/encouragement/words of wisdom on your channel, thanks man!