My first job out of nursing school was in the Neuro ICU at a very large hospital in downtown Dallas.  

 

In this particular hospital, new ICU nurses complete a 13 week internship partnered with an experienced nurse (called a preceptor).  My preceptors name was Vanessa, she was the typical ICU nurse type - a hardcore, type A nurse.

 

She trained me well . . . but . . . those 13 weeks came to an end and it was time for me to be all on my own - no safety net to fall back on, no babysitter to make sure I did everything by the book - it was just ME. 

 

To be honest . . . I was terrified.

 

I wish I'd had a tool like NURSING.com

 

You CAN do this

 

Happy Nursing!

 

-Jon