Cardiac Critical Care or Neuro Critical Care?

[IndyGypsyNurse]

Hi everyone, I am graduating this Friday May 6th yeah! :balloons: I have two job offers, one in Neuro and one in Cardiac. I want to learn as much as I can about all the different human body systems, and have as many clinical skills as possible. I eventually want to do travel nursing. My question is which unit do you reccomend to fill these desires. Also considering I am a new grad which unit would you recommend and why? Pros and Cons of both units?

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Much!

"Miss I cant decide, need advice"

Adria

[Toby's mum]

I am starting my 3rd semester in an ADN program and have already been offered a job in a CVICU. I think the only extra opportunitues for BSNs are management and leadership roles.

Cardiac RN--I didn't realize you could apply for a job at this point in the program. How did you go about it? I'm also in my final year of an ADN program and work as a Cardiac monitor tech on a tele unit. I'd love to get into a CVICU. Any tips based on your experience getting the job--congratulations!!! Steph

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Quote

Cardiac RN--I didn't realize you could apply for a job at this point in the program. How did you go about it? I'm also in my final year of an ADN program and work as a Cardiac monitor tech on a tele unit. I'd love to get into a CVICU. Any tips based on your experience getting the job--congratulations!!! Steph

They tell you to start applying at the end of your 3rd semester. Then they will hire you as a student nurse while you finish out your semester and take the nclex. We had a job fair at the college and that's how I found out. All of the local hospitals were there. You will work as a student nurse and then just "transfer" over to being an RN. However, I didn't take that job.....But as a student nurse you are guarenteed a nursing job there. I was talking to a manager of a CVICU and she said that they won't even take new grads into there unless they have some experience as a tech in tele/ICU.

Won't they take you at the CVICU in your hospital (especially if you are already tele trained)?? Have you talked to the manager?? I bet they would want you (less paperwork since you are already an employee.) Every nurse that I have talked to has said don't just apply for the job but call the manager first and talk to them. Also, it helps to network. I know a lot of people from a lot of hospitals because I was once an EMT here and I have been a tech forever and a day. I have pulled and used every resource that I know. I want to get the best hospital with the best training.......do what you gotta do.

[mummer43, BSN, RN]

I am starting my 3rd semester in an ADN program and have already been offered a job in a CVICU. I think the only extra opportunitues for BSNs are management and leadership roles.

Don't forget about advanced degrees like CRNA and Nurse Practitioner. They require a BSN.

[HillaryC, RN, CRNA]

You've probably already made a decision by now, but in case you haven't, I'd say go for the cardiac unit. I work in a SICU with a little of everything (except burns -- they're in another SICU). Neuro patients can be very labor-intensive and nutty ? If I had my druthers, I'd want a good sick cardiac patient most days ?

So, what did you decide?