Which one would you pick?

[ijuanabhappy]

I'm a recent grad (last year) with very limited nursing experience. I was just accepted into a NICU fellowship but I feel completely overwhelmed. I'm thinking now that this might be too stressful for me at this time in my life. I was also offered a pediatric home health position which would consist of going to school with a disabled high-school child. Should I stick it out in the NICU or choose the home health position? Feel overwhelmed, depressed, and don't know what to do... thanks.

[looking for work]

I would go for the NICU job. It will be very stressful, but the ped homecare is worse. I have done it. You will have to go into a home, get the kid ready for school, ride on the school bus, sit with others like him in a classroom all day long, and be subject to a whole host of classroom politics. If the parents of this kid are upity (and most are) you may find yourself out of a job without a valid reason. Although the alternative is dealing with the hospital politics and a greater number of upity parents, a NICU job always looks better on a resume. It has been my overall experience that special needs children are over-catered to and spoiled. They are brought up to think that they are the center of everyone's attention and act accordingly. They have major behavioral problems because their parents cave in to their every whim. It is a recipe for a nursing nightmare. I did this for a little over a year and had the same general experiences with each kid. Also, the pay is not steady because when school is closed you dont get paid. Also, there are no benefits associated with any home care job around. Its mediocre pay, and not steady work.