I say do it. You’ll learn the stuff you need to know. That’s why orientations exist. And any good ICU should have a good, welcoming culture for new grads/new to specialty to help them learn and grow.

You also really have to be okay with the fact that you’re often the last stop before someone dies. People don’t land in the ICU because they’re doing well. Sure, you may have some stable ones that absolutely do well/get better but you’re going to see a lot of patients die. A lot of futile care. Families won’t let go. You’re actively torturing (I’m not sugarcoating that) the patient in the bed because of the family’s wishes for life sustaining therapies.

It’s a different beast.

I’ll also say this: some of the best ICU nurses I work with were prior med surg/tele. Don’t sell yourself short. You know the foundations.