Newer ICU nurse here trying to get better with morning rounds/provider communication. How do you guys compress info when like 4 different teams are following the same crashing patient? I feel like I end up saying too much because my brain is trying to explain the whole picture instead of just the main concern/trajectory. Just trying to cut the noise and make communication easier for everyone.
Hey guys
I’m a junior currently rotating in ICU for the first time since I’ve graduated. And I suck at resusses. My brain goes everywhere and I cannot delegate. I don’t know what to do to get better.
Today: We had a resus for a patient that had status Epilepticus on over the weekend was on a midaz infusion and changed to propofol infusion today and he also had been having a refractory hyperkalaemia over this same weekend with ECG changes as a result. BPs started dropping after the start of propfol to which I asked for a bolus of phenyl or adrenaline (resource limited) and the sister just kept on doing her thing instead of helping me address the BP. Finally got the adrenaline and the HR and sats started dropping dramatically to which we called resus but I was so haywire I couldn’t even think of removing him from the vent and bag masking, asking for a board etc.
I eventually got to the algorithm and was working my way down - he was a v tach and the sisters wouldn’t even amhelp connect the defib. Eventually so shocked and I asked for and gave amiodarone neat to which the sisters started giving me shit for not mixing it with dextrose (but I wasn’t taught that for a resus situation and I couldn’t even refute that bc my mind is so all over?!??)
Eventually we called it after resussing and correcting as we went.
Please can someone help me understand how to be better. I’m in such a slump and I feel so horrible and like no one will ever listen to me bc I’m dumb
Interventional Cardiology vs Critical Care Cardiology: Am I being unrealistic wanting both?
First year general cardiology fellow here. I’m planning on interventional cardiology long‑term, but I can’t shake how much I genuinely love critical care and the CCU/CVICU. I loved it in residency and even now during fellowship I still feel drawn to hemodynamics, shock, vent, ECMO, all of it.
One thing that complicates this: I really don’t enjoy outpatient clinic. I’m happiest when I’m in the cath lab or in the ICU managing sick patients. That’s the environment where I feel most engaged and useful.
But everyone keeps telling me that combining IC + critical care is “not realistic,” “career‑limiting,” or only possible in a few academic places. I’ve heard that the job market is extremely narrow and most places won’t hire someone who wants to do both.
Any thoughts?
I found out that different centers, teams, and even individual providers may use different language for the same part of the ECMO circuit.
Hi! Newly graduated AGACNP student here. I am now applying for jobs, looking mostly at crit care. For context, I have 5 years of neuro, cardiac, and medical ICU nursing experience under my belt, and am hoping to continue my career in the ICU.
APPs who started as new grads in the ICU (or didn’t but work in an ICU now) - do you feel like a fellowship is worth the time/effort/salary cut? I know the learning curve is steep, and I’d like to come out of the next year feeling well-rounded and confident. However, the program I’m considering pays ~$72,000 in a HCOL area, which comes out to about $6/hr less than what I currently make as an RN.
The hospital I work at now does not have APP fellows, but I’ve heard mixed opinions from my classmates who have worked with them. The program I applied to is well-established and is described as strong and supportive by those who run it, but I’d like to hear your perspectives as well!
Thanks in advance for the help 🫶🏼
