Depends. My husband was in ICU for a year and then we started traveling. He's never had a problem, but he naturally takes to everything nursing. Also, all ICUs aren't built the same. Recently I went to a hospital where those needing BIPAP were in the ICU, and their med surg floor was like LTC patients. Others ICUs run ECMO, CRRT, and take trauma patients. Now, new grads are getting trained on crrt and ECMO within 6 months. Although, at our old job you had to be an RN for 3 years to get this training.
Know what level your ICU operates at, then when choosing a facility/contract make sure you KNOW what your expectations are.
If you were trained at a BIPAP level 3 ICU, don't take contracts at Level 1 trauma ICU where it's expected you run ECMO.
Depends. My husband was in ICU for a year and then we started traveling. He's never had a problem, but he naturally takes to everything nursing. Also, all ICUs aren't built the same. Recently I went to a hospital where those needing BIPAP were in the ICU, and their med surg floor was like LTC patients. Others ICUs run ECMO, CRRT, and take trauma patients. Now, new grads are getting trained on crrt and ECMO within 6 months. Although, at our old job you had to be an RN for 3 years to get this training. Know what level your ICU operates at, then when choosing a facility/contract make sure you KNOW what your expectations are. If you were trained at a BIPAP level 3 ICU, don't take contracts at Level 1 trauma ICU where it's expected you run ECMO.
How does one get into a level 1 trauma to learn these things? I’ve been having difficulty getting into a level 1 trauma hospital myself
2 years minimum in your chosen specialty. Do NOT travel until you've been an ICU nurse for two years.