I have absolutely fallen in love with my graduate program, working as an Intensive Care Nurse. As student nurses begin to rotate through the unit, it has me thinking of what pieces of advice, I would have given myself, if I knew what I know now. There is just so much to learn within the ICU. I have made a TOP 6, of things I could have done, to maximise the education, learning and overall experience of my rotation through the Intensive Care Unit. I hope you enjoy.

As you know, I didn’t have a student placement in ICU. Before starting my graduate program, I had some burning questions relating to how I would determine levels of consciousness, and levels of pain, within my sedated and intubated patients. I thought I’d share what I have learned over the last 3 months, and provide some insight to how this is performed. I hope you enjoy.

Starting as a new graduate nurse, directly into the ICU, I’ve only ever known caring for one patient. Last night, I had the opportunity to care for 2 patients, at the same time. The shift has its challenges; yet on reflection, I learned so much about myself, and my abilities.

Im proud of this episode. I reflect on a difficult experience I had the other day, and I discuss what I was feeling in the moment. I compare this to a similar experience from one of my first shifts in the ICU.

I’m excited to share that I passed my formal 3-month practical test within the ICU. In this episode I discuss what was involved in the 8 hour assessment, and where I’ll be heading from here.

It’s interesting, it wasn’t until a recent education day; mixed with a few critically unwell patients, that I’ve started to notice I’m understanding more of mechanical ventilation. It all takes time!

As I approach my first practical assessment for my Graduate Program within the ICU; I reflect on how I’m coping, and how I’ve learned to cope, with the constant flood of new information. The rate of new information certainly doesn’t slow down, you just learn to keep up!

It’s a rewarding feeling to experience either a skill, or a situation, you haven’t done in a while, so you can compare just how far you’ve come. In today’s episode, I compare my first ever time taking a Handover in Post Op from Theatre (Week 2ish); to now being 10 weeks in.

I’ve received quite a few requests to talk about my experiences of competing for my uni in two student paramedic competitions. I was fortunate to have competed twice for my university; and my experiences have certainly helped to prepare me, now as an Intensive Care Nurse in my graduate Nurse. I hope you enjoy.

I take this opportunity to reflect on the last 10 weeks of the ups and downs; and talk about how so feel now, in comparison to only a few weeks ago. Im beginning to feel a lot more comfortable; feeling more apart of the team; and beginning to really develop a professional and personal routine as a new graduate nurse.