As a new nurse during your first in practice, selecting your first ICU is more often than not an overwhelming feeling, nevertheless let it be the best decision of your life. Critical care areas, such as intensive care units, pose various challenges and tasks as you will be dealing with patients who are very sick. To ensure that things move as smoothly as possible and to help you figure out the most appropriate unit to work in within your needs and career aspirations here are five key factors to take into account before making the decision.

Knowledge Of The Skills Required For Different ICUs Types

Again, formulating treatment plans is an essential task that entails tailoring them to individual patients and their unique circumstances, it is purely impossible with a type of ICU. Reversing the question, though, each creative plan, at least to some extent, has its goals and expectations, with the patient profile of a specific type of ICU determining the tasks that are likely to be most troublesome.

1. MICU: For patients with complex medical conditions such as chronic respiratory failure, active sepsis or multiple organ failure. In this field more critical and timely assessments and judgments are needed.
2. SICU: This unit attends mostly to patients who have undergone surgical procedures and are recuperating. Well suited if post-operative exposure appeals to you.
3. CCU: This unit specializes in patients with various cardiac problems. This unit deals with patients having heart attack and arrhythmias, cardiac surgical patients.
4. Neonatal ICU (NICU): Designed for the care of newborn babies who were born premature or having some complications. Working here involves a unique set of skills to deal with small babies.
5. Pediatric ICU (PICU): Looking after patients who are severely ill children. The day to day activity in this unit also requires some sort of invested emotion as one would be constantly dealing with ill children and their families.

Focus On Your Emotional Strength

The emotion is usually welcome in some parts of the hospital, but it can also be inappropriate. Working in an Intensive Unit, for example, entails consistently being exposed to tenderness, especially relating to those who are critically sick or dying. One’s emotional strength must be properly assessed, in part, in order to guarantee that one doesn’t crack under these circumstances.

Things to ask yourself:

1. Would you be at ease caring for a patient who is unlikely to escape the situation alive?
2. What are your ideas or activities that enable you to deal with traumatic experiences?
3. Will you be retaining your composure for the families in their tough times?

Should you be amicable and eager to try and help people at their most vulnerable times, and some areas tend to be more suited to this than others, such as the NICU or PICU. But, if you’re more interested in the technical aspects of care, then Medical or Surgical ICU may be a better idea.

Take into account the Learning Curve and Training Support

ICU nursing has its ups and downs because it is fairly complex and often too much for anyone to pick up quickly. As a novice nurse, one should analyze the level of learning and training each ICU approperts out.

Search for:

• Orientation Programs: Does the unit state a specific orientation process? Well structured orientation programs allow new nurses to boost their confidence and understanding of the key performance areas in the Intensive Care Units.
• Mentorship Opportunities: Do nurses who are more practiced than you are ready to help you in tough places? A trustworthy mentor can assist to promote one’s learning and even help deal with stress.
• Ongoing Education: Is there any expectation of the ICU to have the work staff gain certification or take courses? My growth in my career will not be stagnant as I will continuously learn something new.

A unit whose focus is on the development of its staff through training and mentoring can make your transition into ICU nursing smooth and provide you with the essential skills.

Check the Work-Life Balance

Nursing schedules in the ICU are harsh with nurses working extended hours during nights, evenings, weekends and even over holidays. Before settling for the first ICU surgery of your new career, it is critical to consider the effect of the work schedule on other aspects of life.

Below are a few points worth knowing:

1. Shift Length: The set shifts can be 12-hour shifts in ICUs, but there may be differences between the unit. Make sure you understand the duration of the hours required and whether you are able to withstand the pressure of the hours.
2. On Call Requirements: Certain units may have on call requirements, which is likely in trauma or surgical ICUs. Have an agreement with your employer on the expected on-call requirement and how it would affect your average days off.
3. Team Support and Culture: Do the nurses in the ICU world over hand in hand, for the advancement of the ICU, and the nurses’ affairs are ina positive light fostered by the managements’ efforts. Work environment and culture are not only important elements peculiar to a firm but when kept right, may prove the very reason for your job satisfaction and the well-being of your life outside work.

It is essential to achieve a healthy equilibrium between your profession and household activities, therefore, the selected ICU should be the one that complements your requirements and health.

Keep in Mind Your Future Career Development

The first time you secure a job in an ICU will mark an important milestone in your life but with time you also need to look at the bigger picture. It is quite likely that the ICU you choose will help determine the rest of your career in terms of areas of focus, and professional development as well.

So, what are the criteria here:

1. Areas Of Specialisation: Can any of these ICUs or those complementing them allow further specialization in nursing? You could develop skills and knowledge in cardiac or trauma or in the area of neonatal care that could enable you to seek higher level positions in the future.
2. Career Growth: Does the ICU have a clear career progression model? Some ICUs include charge nurse or clinical educator positions which will assist to move up the career ladder.
3. Accredited Programs: Accredited programs such as CCRN for critical care registered nurses could be sponsored by some employers which would increase employment options.

ICU choice that is in line with one’s career vision will not only be professionally encouraging but also bring great satisfaction in one’s nursing career.

Conclusion

Choosing your first intensive care unit is a very important decision in your career as a nurse. It is possible to be specific in making a reasonable choice when you know how many possible ICU specialization exists, evaluate your personal stress and emotional level, consider the training and assistance provided, take into consideration their influence over the work and private life balance as well as the future career path you see for yourself.