[supernova004]

I'm graduating in June and applying for my first RN job and could use some advice.

Ultimately, I want to end up in the ER of a trauma center someday. For now, I'm following the advice to get critical care/ICU experience.

I've read here and it seems that CVICU is the best ICU experience, however, I've facinated by the brain and cognitive assessments. I'm so glad to learn there is Neuro ICU. I've been searching for and applying to Neuro CC/ICU positions. Most of the new grad programs in critical care I'm applying for are cardio. I'm willing to do that for now to learn the ropes but I can imagine myself wanting to move to neuro after one,two (?) years.

Can anyone tell me if Neuro CC/ICU will come back to haunt me down the line when I go into emergency nursing?

Should I not talk about my interst in neuro at the new grad interviews? I don't want to do neuro med/surg only becuase I do want to move to ER someday and want to start with critical care.

Can anyone tell me who is in Neuro CC/ICU the pros and cons of this path?

Do neuro patients have cardio issues too?

Thank you

[gwenith]

Neuro patients have EVERY issue. Cardiac is good but compared to Neuro (and I am going to get blasted for this) it is like mass producing an article compared to hand making something. Neuro is soooooooo varied compared to cardiac. For a starters a majority of head injuries are multi-trauma patients - no problem with translating THAT to ER, then there are different bleeds and strokes - think vasculopath (not in all cases but enough so you really understand what vasculopath means) and finally there is the more "routine" post-op care.

Neuro is much harder to learn, there are fewer resources out there to help you understand and it is more challenging on so many levels that it is unfair to compare the two.

[supernova004]

Thanks for your perspective; it's good to hear that in your opinion, neuro ICU experience bridges well to the ER.

[hckyrox7886]

Gwenith is VERY right. I had the same goal when I graduated. TRAUMA!! So, as a new grad, i went to work in the ICU at a trauma center. Best thing i coulda done, i still haven't left! i LOVE it. If you want to find out if trauma is really your thing, go to a trauma ICU for awhile. I was very lucky, my hospital has a wonderful new grad program and strong preceptor program, so i got a great start. You will see EVERYTHING! Heads, hearts, anything weird that can happen head to toe. Most of these patients have much more going on than just neuro, so you will get plenty of practice with all your other systems too. Good luck!

[supernova004]

Originally Posted by hckyrox7886

Gwenith is VERY right. I had the same goal when I graduated. TRAUMA!! So, as a new grad, i went to work in the ICU at a trauma center. Best thing i coulda done, i still haven't left! i LOVE it. If you want to find out if trauma is really your thing, go to a trauma ICU for awhile. I was very lucky, my hospital has a wonderful new grad program and strong preceptor program, so i got a great start. You will see EVERYTHING! Heads, hearts, anything weird that can happen head to toe. Most of these patients have much more going on than just neuro, so you will get plenty of practice with all your other systems too. Good luck!

hckyrox7886 vbmenu_register("postmenu_1587021", true); ,
I see you are in CA. Is the hospital you speak of with the "wonderful new grad program and strong preceptor program" in CA? If so, which hospital?