How to Manage Your Time as an ICU Nurse

[@kimberlyrichardsonfitness6473]

Katie, I discovered you in August 1 when I started orientation in Neuro ICU. I listen to you every second I have free time, while driving to an from work. I just joined your program to gain more access to videos. You have been my saving grace. You speak my language. The first time I read your comments about being a New Nurse in Neuro ICU, I cried...because I felt you truly understand and are here to help. Last of all, that beer is from my home town Durham NC. !!!! I live in Arizona and miss Full steam Brewery,

[@freshrn]

AH i love it! I'm so glad it's been helpful! Sorry I'm like 6 months late on this comment. Not sure why I didn't see it. I'm guessing by now you're already a charge nurse :-)

[@matthewmyungkulee]

Just stumbled onto your channel. Really loving all the tips and tricks for New Grads. I'll be starting up in a New Grad program in a Neuroscience / Trauma ICU in a few months, and watching these videos is giving me some much needed confidence (especially amongst all of this crazy covid-19 stuff happening)

[@freshrn]

Welcome aboard! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I have some podcast episodes on neuro and ICU nursing, as well as quite a few blog posts! (FreshRN.com)

[@victoriatruman7625]

Hey Katie! Love your videos they have been so helpful during my journey as a new grad ICU nurse. I was wondering if you could do a video or podcast about time managements during a sick admission?? I feel like there’s so many tasks to get done especially if their admitted near end of shift, was wondering if u had advice or tips. Thanks so much 🤗

[@freshrn]

Victoria, this is a wonderful idea. I was just brainstorming new podcast episodes and this is absolutely going on the list!

[@emeln001]

Wow your so helpful! Thanks for being so clear and concise! And honest.

[@mntn_moth]

Thank you!!!!!!! So much good info. This video was so helpful!!!

[@Dream727260]

Thank you for great advice. Very helpful.

[@beegee14]

"Level" lines? or "Label" Lines? Thank you so much for your vids. Lifesavers for the past couple years in neuro

[@freshrn]

So glad! More on the way! Labeling lines is important, as well as leveling them! Arterial lines and EVDs may need to be leveled to be appropriately calibrated and then all of the lines should be labeled for quick identification.

[@megantackett1921]

You are so helpful. Thanks!

[@naikeelovince7774]

You are amazing! Thank you for the tips.

[@marlynalvarado7128]

Just saw this video, excellent! Very helpful to see how you broke it down instead generic advice that does not say how to go about it

[@freshrn]

So so glad it was helpful! Working on creating more!

[@Bingbangboompowwham]

Holy cow, you have CNA's on your ICU? That sounds dreamy...

[@freshrn]

So what's interesting is I talked about that... and then shortly after, one of the ICU's got rid of ALL of their CNA's one day. And cut 1 out of our matrix, so we had to be basically dying to get 1 CNA. Gahhhh

[@theresadaniel3253]

How did that change your routine? Do you do bathing while doing your assessments?? Also thank you SO much for this videos as well as your others. I am starting an externship in the ICU and this REALLY helps to understand what an ICU morning shift looks like and how to organize yourself.

[@freshrn]

AWESOME! So it really does change your routine. Look to work with another nurse to help turn, assess, and bath simultaneously. Get the baths done early in the day and cluster your care. So bringing in the glucometer, lab stuff, bath stuff, etc. all at the same time, chart your assessment while you're in the room, etc. What sucks is basically you've lost time with your patients in this scenario, so you must look to maximize at every single turn.

[@nursesavage7591]

@@freshrn we have CNAs in our ICU with good ratios for them at Cleveland Clinic!

[@adamdavis785]

Thank you thank you thank you. Such good advice and perfect to what I was looking for!👍

[@freshrn]

Awesome! Glad it was helpful!

[@sezeef]

I wish it works this way! You are taking care of your high acuity patient until your high fall risk patient decide to take patient suddenly, not only this but he keep pressing the emergency button that activates the alarm in the whole hospital!! No CNAs to help!

[@chempanda6388]

if a new grad was considering or wants to go to icu, would you advise them to start off with 1 year of med surg floor experience? i hear that a lot, and sometimes people say just go for what you really want right off the bat. What would be the best thing to do? Thank you

[@freshrn]

I think it depends on the person and circumstances, really. Some will do well going into ICU right away but some need some time in med surg. I definitely needed non-ICU time to grow as a nurse before stepping into that environment. Also, if there's a one in a lifetime job opportunity that comes up, that's another thing to consider. Just because an ICU job is available now doesn't mean it will still be there when you've accumulated that med surg experience. So, unfortunately it's not a cut and dry answer and really depends on the individual and circumstances.

[@kayciable]

Progressive or Intermediate care may also be an option for getting into the ICU setting.

[@lyssl6713]

Wait what? Look at the chart to figure out the types and locations of lines if that info's not passed along in report? New grads, please DO NOT do stuff like this. It's the ICU. These are sick patients and sometimes doing what is best for them is harder for you. Look at your patient, not someone else's charting of said patient.

[@freshrn]

I mention that to ensure it's charted correctly. In no way did I mean to insinuate that people should only look at a chart and never their patient. I've taken over for nurses who were charting an arterial line on the wrong artery for days, or an IV that was the wrong gauge, or didn't even have lines inserted into the chart. Arguably most of the things that are best for patients isn't easier for us.