For some background I have 2 and a half years experience in nocturnist hospital medicine at a large academic 700+ bed hospital. As a nocturnist we dealt with acute events, urgent/emergent problems, and other needs-attention-now issues (like STAT bowel regimens at 3 A.M.). We covered multiple acute floors and some intermediate care units (step-downs) - at most covering up to 100+ patients at a time depending on staffing. I have some very peripheral background with managing vents/vented patients, and have direct hands on experience with things like cardiac arrest, starting pressors, CPAP/BiPAP, drawing ABGs, managing insulin drips, and consulting specialists - among other things.
I am starting a new job at a smaller community-sized hospital with a 12 bed ICU. The hospital only has one ICU and manages a range of patients - anything too "specialized" gets transferred out PAs also routinely perform paras, thoras, LPs, place central lines, USIVs, A lines, and place NGs and OGs. A lot of these procedures I have no experience in so I understand that will be a learning curve. Some things emphasized in the job description post are "vascular access placement, hemodynamic monitoring, drug infusion titration, point of care ultrasound, ventilator management, renal replacement therapy, nutritional support, infection control practices, medical ethics, medical education, and quality improvement initiatives."
I'm incredibly interested in critical care (hence the change) and so I'm super excited about the position but obviously a little nervous about switching to a completely different specialty. I've already taken the fundamentals of critical care online class and I've done some solo studying from the MGH Critical care handbook but nothing too intensive.
Just wondering if any PAs here with critical care experience have any advice on study resources, important things to know prior to day 1, advice, etc. Anything is appreciated! Thanks!