Pre-registration nurse education requires students to spend 50% of their programme in clinical practice. The intensive care unit (ICU) is an area that could accommodate students, provided that staff receive adequate support and preparation. This article discusses how staff in one ICU were prepared to support first-year nursing students and relates mentors’ experience of assisting students at this stage of training. The article aims to give readers an insight into the types of activities that students can be involved in and the potential benefits of placements in an ICU for students.