You got the ICU job. Now you’re realizing how much there is to learn.
Drips. Vents. Hemodynamics. Labs. Alarms. Prioritizing.
ICU Success Academy helps new ICU nurses understand what they’re seeing, know what matters, and start putting the pieces together at the bedside.
Learn ICU with me →
practical lessons + downloadable bedside resources + private student community • $97
I know how overwhelming ICU can feel in the beginning.
I've been a CVICU nurse for 19 years, and I've spent years helping nurses learn at the bedside. I'm also a former classroom teacher, so teaching complicated concepts in a way that actually makes sense is something I care deeply about.
I created ICU Success Academy for the nurse who leaves orientation thinking, “I learned so much today... but I still don't know how all of this fits together.”
We start with the big picture, break down the concepts you'll actually encounter in ICU, and work toward understanding what you're seeing, why it matters, and what you should be thinking about next.
❤️ Cardiac Monitoring & ECGs
Heart basics, ECG interpretation, dangerous rhythms, STEMI recognition and what those monitor changes mean for your patient.
📈 Hemodynamics & Arterial Lines
Arterial lines, MAP, preload, afterload, cardiac output and the hemodynamic numbers that can feel so intimidating when you're new.
🧠 Thinking Like an ICU Nurse
How to prioritize, organize your assessment, recognize what needs attention first, communicate with providers, and work through a busy ICU shift.
🫁 Airway & Ventilation
The foundations you need to start understanding your ventilated patient and connect what you're seeing clinically.
🧪 Labs & ABGs
How to look at ICU labs, recognize important changes, interpret ABGs and think beyond simply memorizing normal ranges.
💉 ICU Medications & Drips
Common ICU drips, what they do, why your patient is receiving them, what you're titrating toward and what you need to reassess.
ICU First Look Checklist
Shift Flow Guide
ICU Thinking Framework
ABG Interpretation Guide
Heart Basics for Nurses
Hemodynamics Guide
Arterial Line Bedside Checklist
ICU Report Sheet
... and future Academy resources as they're added.
You also get access to our private student space.
Ask questions, work through difficult concepts, celebrate your wins, and learn alongside other nurses who are new to critical care. I'm active inside the community too, so you'll have a place to bring the questions that come up as you're learning.
New ICU nurses, Nurses transitioning into critical care, Nurses currently in orientation, Nurses who want to feel more confident at the bedside
✓ Having a framework for what to assess first
✓ Understanding why your patient is on that drip
✓ Looking at your labs and knowing which changes deserve your attention
✓ Hearing “SVR,” “cardiac index” or “PAWP” without immediately feeling lost
✓ Understanding what your preceptor is talking about when the vent or ABG comes up
✓ Giving report and communicating with providers with more confidence
✓ Starting to connect the pieces instead of memorizing isolated facts
You don't need to know everything today.
You just need a roadmap.
Let's build your ICU confidence together.
You've got questions. We've got answers.
No. ICU Success Academy is supplemental education designed to help you better understand critical care concepts. Always follow your facility's policies, procedures, medication orders, protocols, and formal education.
No. This course was created with new ICU nurses in mind. I start with the big picture and then break more complicated concepts down into practical, bedside-focused teaching. You do not need years of nursing experience before you start.
Absolutely. Getting off orientation doesn’t mean everything suddenly clicks. If you’re caring for ICU patients independently but still feel overwhelmed by drips, hemodynamics, labs, vents, prioritization, or putting everything together, you can still benefit from the Academy.
You’ll have ongoing access to the Academy, including future lessons and course updates added to your purchase at no additional cost.
Learn how ICU nurses think at the bedside. This module breaks down ICU expectations, prioritization, and the mental shift needed to stop feeling overwhelmed and start recognizing what actually matters in critically ill patients.
Build a clear system for surviving and staying ahead during your shift. You’ll learn how to organize report, plan your day, prioritize tasks, and reduce the feeling of constantly being behind.
In this module, you'll learn the fundamentals of ECG interpretation, recognize dangerous heart rhythms, and identify STEMIs with confidence. You'll build a practical framework that helps you connect what you see on the monitor with what's happening to your patient, so you can respond quickly and think like an ICU nurse.
This module introduces the core concepts of hemodynamic monitoring, arterial lines, and mechanical ventilation. You'll learn arterial waveforms, understand the fundamentals of cardiac output and tissue perfusion, and build a practical approach to assessing the ventilated patient. These concepts will help you make sense of complex ICU patients with greater confidence.
Learn how to communicate, ask questions, and speak with providers without second-guessing yourself. This module focuses on building confidence, clarity, and calm decision-making during real ICU shifts.
Lab results and ABGs are part of your patient's overall assessment. In this module, you'll learn a simple framework for reviewing morning labs, recognizing important trends, and interpreting arterial blood gases. You'll understand what common lab abnormalities mean, how they relate to your patient's condition, and when they should prompt further assessment or intervention.
Common drips in the ICU. How to think about them, how to titrate them. Don't take this section until you have done hemodynamics.
I've been a CVICU nurse for 18+ years, a charge nurse, educator, and mentor. My passion is helping nurses build confidence and understand the "why" behind critical care.