critical care

My day in the CCU was so awesome! My preceptor was a male, which I have never really had before, but he was totally cool and you could tell he loved to teach, etc. We had two patients who were stable and self-sufficient, so he said it wasn't a good picture of his normal patients, but I didn't mind because it gave us a chance to discuss a lot of the going-ons of an ICU. Since I thought the ICU was a place I'd like to be, but I was still waiting until I actually went to know for sure, this definitely helped to reiterate this is the place I want to be. However, as I've mentioned in previous posts, lately I've been debating whether I should do the year MS experience or just go straight into a critical care internship program. I know everyone has a different opinion on this, but for me personally, I don't think I would be ready or safe as a new grad in the ICU. Another option that my preceptor brought to my attention yesterday was starting in progressive care first (step-down unit) and then applying for the CCIP!
For some reason I thought these internship programs were only for NEW GRADS, but I was wrong.
I think this is an awesome idea! The reason I am not so keen on MS is because I am going to school for all this time, learning all this neat stuff, but once you go to MS, you're just so busy that it doesn't even give you a chance to honestly learn everything about your patient and apply all the concepts we've learned. All you have time for is passing meds, dealing with paperwork, doctors, and that is pretty much it. The reason I like critical care is the fact that you have to know everything about your patient and you actually get to apply the things you learned in school. HOWEVER, in MS, I could get a lot more experience with time management, brushing up on my skills like foley's, IV's, NGT's, etc. If I can start in a progressive care unit with tele, etc., then this will most likely give me the chance to do all of the these things, as well as not lose all the crap I am learning now. OH, and the hospital I want to work in has a Progressive care course internship program!
I am worried though because I graduate in August and I bet those internship programs begin in May since a lot of people graduate then. I need to look into this.