Tips for New Nurses in the ICU
Being a nurse is not easy. And so is working in the ICU.
Environment in the intensive care unit is intense and stressful. New nurses may find this difficult to handle and feel nervous carrying out their duties.
Below are tips how new nurses can survive in the ICU department:
- Create a routine. Having a routine will make you comfortable in doing your duties. It will also make you feel in control of what you are to do and not miss out the important responsibilities you have to perform.
- Choose the night shift. For new nurses, being on the night shift is better. Why? Because it’s less chaotic and the nurses are closer and supportive. So it is a better shift to learn, process, prepare and plan.
- Familiarize yourself with the alarms. Learn to differentiate your patient’s alarm. You are to treat them, so trust how your patient look like and what they say on how they are feeling.
- Do a good assessment on your pt. Before you start your shift, make sure that the IVF are running at the same rate the previous nurse have told you. check when they are needed to be replaced, make sure everything is safe and appropriate for the pt.
- Respect is a must. Try to remain polite and positive. You have to earn your colleague’s respect by doing your job well with integrity.
- Asking for help won’t make you dead. Being the new and inexperienced nurse, it is only natural for you to ask help. Don’t let pride get in the way.
- A new found friend will be a big hand. Having a new BFF will make you feel secure and relax, knowing that there’s a certain someone who can back you up in frantic moments.
- Have the courage to take the first step. You may be the new nurse, but you can have the initiative to do other tasks that you can, without being asked or ordered to.
- Give the needed report. How you give your report will be evaluated by other nurses as your overall skill. Be concise, organized and calm. Do not leave important things behind.
- You are a nurse with heart. You may be tired, stressed, or even frustrated. But remember that you are a nurse with the compassionate heart who truly cares for their patients well-being. You’ll be confident to accept any assignment again, because you are that nurse - with a heart.
Having strategies in place to handle the overwhelming stress in the ICU will help a nurse from snapping under pressure.
Published at: 11/10/2015
