Specialties MICU
Published May 14, 2004
I want to be a critical care nurse eventually, since I am still a student I want to start in a different field to get into the swing of things, then in a few years go into ICU. I just got two job offers today, one is cardiac stepdown. The nurse manager said i would get to take ACLS, read twelve lead ekg's etc. The other is intermediate care unit, with a trauma on one end and intermediate on the other. They chart on ICU notes and have a lot of vents. I would like to pick the one that would prepare me more for ICU. Any suggestions.
Thanks
Jennifer
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
They are both excellent programs for you. Does one that has better hours for you? Training from either area will be great experience.
Is there a nurse manager from one that you prefer over the other? Or a difference in the staff? Those are things that you also have to take into account....See if you could shadow a nurse on each unit for a few hours to see which you prefer. That will usually give you your answer.
Good luck.... :balloons:
my2sons
111 Posts
They both sound like good learning experiences to me. Shadowing a nurse from both choices is excellent advice. In my experience, cardiac stepdown is used as a bridge between CV surgery and the regular floor. You might get a wider variety of experience in the intermediate unit, especially if they have more vents and trauma. Good luck!
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