Hello everyone. I would like some advice please. I am aware of the current new grad job market so I realize my question is potentially purely hypothetical. However, I am a strong candidate among my new grad peers and I firmly believe that having faith and believing that positive things will come into your life makes a difference and I like to prepare as such. Okay, with that little caveat addressed, in the future, I want to be a PICU nurse. I definitely know that pediatrics is where I belong and I have a strong desire to work specifically in critical care. I have spent some time in the NICU and I like it a lot, but I am the type of person that always needs new challenges. I need to be learning new things consistently and I don't like to feel stagnant. I know I would love the challenge of the NICU early on, but in my heart, I think a few years down the road, I would be bored. I'm drawn to the variety and complexity of the PICU.
IF I had a choice between accepting a position on a general peds med-surg floor or starting in the NICU (level 3 I believe, but ECMO and cardiac babies go to PICU), which position would better prepare me for a PICU position in the future? My hospital does not hire new grads in the PICU, but the NICU and peds floors do. I'm not sure if the ICU experience is an advantage or if the wider range of ages and conditions, albeit much less acute, is better.... or if it's 50/50. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
EDIT: UGHHHH.... I wanted the poll to say Peds not PICU. Sorry, going on little sleep!