Surviving and Thriving in Intensive Care: Preparing New Nurses
Volume 1, Issue 3 SARAH BALCOM
Published online: 08 December 2015
Article Views: 34
Abstract
Intensive care is a specialty area in nursing. Nurses are working in this specialty area care for highly vulnerable, unstable, and complex patients who require skilled and vigilant nursing care. This paper argues that hospitals must adequately prepare newer, less experienced nurses as they transition to careers in intensive care nursing. A background literature review was completed using the following electronic databases: CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, and PsychInfo to identify how these nurses can be supported. Several themes emerged from this literature search, such as the need to retain skilled intensive care nurses. Well-educated nurses are more likely to survive and thrive in the intensive care setting. Consequently, hospitals can provide newer nurses with well-designed, formal education and mentorship programs as a retention strategy. Such programs can help these nurses continue their careers in the intensive care setting, overcome challenges associated with working in intensive care units (ICUs), and develop strong personality characteristics to survive and thrive as ICU nurses.
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