Clinical Immersion: ICU/CV-ICU

Clinical Immersion 

LaGrange Hospital ICU/CV-ICU

I completed a 6 week, full time internship at the LaGrange Hospital ICU-CV-ICU under the supervision of a clinical preceptor. During this time I gradually took on responsibilities of a nurse and by the end I was able to care for patients independently. My responsibilities included all expected responsibilities of an ICU nurse, including shift report, assessments, med administration, hourly rounding, documenting, patient and family education, building therapeutic relationships, interdisciplinary collaboration, teamwork, critical thinking, and delegating, etc. 

I loved the challenge of working with critical patients where decisions were made quickly and anticipatory interventions were necessary to keep patients alive.  Nurses and staff must be competent, knowledgable, critical thinkers, and able to identify minor changes in their patients conditions to prevent adverse events.  I am highly motivated by this dynamic healthcare setting.  

Preceptor comments

Amy was a pleasure to work with. She was one of the most prepared, knowledgeable, and genuine students that I have worked with. Amy is more than ready after completing the immersion course in the Critical Care Unit to accept the role as a nurse. Her calm collaboration with interdisciplinary teams proves her teamwork efforts were appropriate. She was active in all patient participation with education, assessments, medication, and care. Her assessments were always thorough and her ability to distinguish changes in the critical care patients was respectable.  When a situation arose for Amy to learn she was more than willing to accede the opportunity. Amy took it upon herself to attend our in hospital seminars and grand rounds when able. Her clinical skills were advanced for a student. She was always researching disease process, perfecting skills, and teaching herself with literature to advance her knowledge applicable to the patients she took care of.  The collaboration with family needs work, but those relationships come in time and developing the relationship with the families. Amy was an absolute exceptional student and would benefit as a nurse to any institution.

Faculty Comments:

Amy has successfully completed all objectives required for this clinical.  I have been able to watch Amy grow from an unsure beginning student to a confident graduate nurse.  She was always seeking out opportunities to enhance her knowledge and increase her skills.  She will make the transition from student nurse to novice nurse easily./se

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Critical Care Skills

• Telemetry
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Rapid Response, CPR
• Cardiac drips
• Sedatives (Propofol)
• IVs, Blood draws
• Vent care
• Extubation
• Trach care
• Ostomy care
• Catheters
• NG Tube
• G Tube
• IABP
• Swan-Ganz
• Art line
• PICC
• Hospice care
• Postmortem care
• Triage
• Casting/dressings
• Wound care
• Sutures, staples
• Preop/post op protocols