Hi all,

Background: im an ICU nurse w/ 2 year experience. i worked in a 12 bed icu mixed MICU and SICU. Opportunity has come up that applied and got offered jobs at 2 hospitals:

Option 1:

-level 2 trauma center

-mixed ICU as well (cardio, ms, trauma)

-private hospital

-considered to be in the less fortunate population area (not that i have a problem w/ this. i am working in one right now)

-bay area hospital (higher pay but higher cost of living as well)

-closer to relatives

-provided relocation assistance

Option 2

-big university medical center

-level 1 trauma center

-a specialty unit NEURO SURGICAL ICU (love neuro patients but dont know how im gonna be able to deal w/ the same patient population every day)

-teaching hospital

-opportunities for continuing education (they give discounts for employees)

-not bay area

-provide critical care classes

-better benefits (retirement, holiday pays)

Help me decide. For both hospitals, i will be relocating. I live in central CA and both hospitals are in Nothern CA. I am so torn.

Me? I wouldn't do neuro, but some people love that sort of patient population.

It takes a special person to do neuro all the time. I find it difficult and sometimes depressing. Sometimes you get very impulsive behavior from the patients, and have to deal with bodily fluids being tossed around. Not to say that doesn't happen with every other type of patient! Haha

Maybe this sounds cliche, but try to imagine where you might want to be in your personal and professional life 5 or 10 years down the road. Choose a job you feel excited about, but also one that is compatible with your long term goals.

Hello! It's nice you have 2 choices! I don't know how old you are but I would recommend the second choice. I work for UCSD and the benefits were definitely part of the draw, while I am learning new things I am also helping to secure my future. I have learned so much in the teaching environment and I know that no matter where the road takes me my resume and my skills are top notch. It can also open up doors to other departments if Neuro turns out not to be your thing! Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you all so much. I think I will be choosing the second option as well. I am 24 years old and planning to go back to school in a couple of years for my masters. I think Uc Davis will give me a chance to better myself as a nurse. I did consider the fact that you an switch to other units after a year if I ended up not liking neuro. :) the only sucky part is I will be living on my own.

Hello everyone!

Just a quick update: I got a formal job offer for Option #1 already. I looked at their benefits and it's not that bad as well.

Option #2 is taking forever to give me a formal job offer.

With that said, I think i will give Option #2 until the end of the week. if not ill just take Option #1 as it is already secured.

other things to consider is that option #1 is an 8hr shift, better pay and closer to my relatives. They also pay for your tuition if you decide to go back to school later on (part of it).

Although option #2 will look good in my resume, i think that experience is experience. Eventually. my goal is to work at Stanford Medical Center or San Francisco General Hospital ICU.

I will keep you guys posted!

Hello everyone! Just a quick update: I got a formal job offer for Option #1 already. I looked at their benefits and it's not that bad as well. Option #2 is taking forever to give me a formal job offer. With that said I think i will give Option #2 until the end of the week. if not ill just take Option #1 as it is already secured. other things to consider is that option #1 is an 8hr shift, better pay and closer to my relatives. They also pay for your tuition if you decide to go back to school later on (part of it). Although option #2 will look good in my resume, i think that experience is experience. Eventually. my goal is to work at Stanford Medical Center or San Francisco General Hospital ICU. I will keep you guys posted![/quote']

So what did you decide?

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big university trauma 1 center all the way!!!!