Offered Externship in Orthopedics...not in ICU

Specialties MICU

Published

Not sure which forum to post in...so a repost from CCU

Just offered a Nurse Extern Position in Orthopedics at a hospital in NJ. I tried to get into ICU but the recruiter thought Orthro was a better fit. She said I looked strong (I am a male)...LOLOL hope this didn't influence her decision.

Anyway, my goal was to get into ICU, with the hopes of going on to be a CRNA. Just wondering if the Ortho opportunity will be a show stopper. Is there anything I can do while in Ortho that will help my chances with landing an ICU position come graduation time. If I do well in the Externship, the hospital will hire me in the fall to work every other week until I graduate in December 2010. It is likely that they will hire their externs first if a void needs to be filled.

Additional Info:

I am a career changer. more than 18yrs in the financial industry of working long hours in an environement that never agreed with my personality with no such thing as OT pay. I was always interested and good at managing money and made my hobby into a career. About 5yrs ago I changed from the Brokerage side of my company where I was a Trader to the Actuarial side thinking that the change would do me some good. That lasted all of 60 days and then I started planning my exit by taking the prereqs at the local community college. I was contemplating Pharmacology, Nursing and Pharm Sales. After shadowing a CRNA, RN and CNA...I chose nursing. I will have to take a 10wk leave of absence from my current job for the Externship, which is a HUGE risk with the current economic conditions. But I see this as taking a calculated chance on myself. Married with two young daughters but I have to do it. I am now in the last year of the ADN Nursing program and trying to plan my next move. There are some CRNA programs that will accept applicants without a BSN if they have a Bachelors in another field, but a bridge or two class would be required. However, the minimum of 1yr ICU experience does not change. This is why I am trying to get into ICU as a new grad sooner than later.

Any suggestions, thoughts or comments will be appreciated. Thanks ! !

Specializes in SICU.

In todays economy it is hard for even expereinced nurses to get jobs. Not to long ago there was a lot of posts from nurses in NJ having difficulty finding a job. That hospitals in that state were looking for BSN's. So please call the hospital that you would be doing this externship with and make sure that they will hire you as an ASN after the externship. If not, please be careful not to lose your current job.

thanks for the reply and yes, being conservative is key. just trying to increase my chances with finding employment after graduation. no guarantees, but it seems inevitable that some form of risk will have to be assumed. i understand more hospitals are looking for bsns....at least those that did not close, which also adds to the challenges of finding a job.

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