CCU vs ER

HiddenAngels · Jun 19

Lipoma said:

I thoroughly enjoyed and flourished being in the ED and it definitely made me a better CCU nurse when I made the transition. I also enjoyed working with the plethora of devices in the CCU which allowed me to grow clinically as a nurse. Both experiences were great. That said, I preferred working in the ED over the CCU because I hated having the same patients day in and day out...I also hated the documentation and struggled the most with that.

This is key. It all depends on what kind of day YOU would like to have. Most CCU/ICU patients are there for a while so you'll get to have all of them at some point. ED is fast paced and exciting but not for everyone who like things kind of predictable. That's the key to your decision.

HiddenAngels · Jun 19

Lipoma said:

When I got off orientation in the CCU, the ED called up for report and I legit only asked 3 questions: patient's orientation status, location of PIVs, and current medication/gtt rates... it took less than 30 seconds. My pod mate turned to me and said "that's it?" in which I replied, yup...I knew I was getting this patient the last 2 hours so I wrote down everything I wanted to know.

Nursing would be so much better if everyone would get off their high horse and just focus on the patient instead of having a pi$$ing contest.

^^^ main reason why I am a firm believer ED nurses should work a month long in the ICU, and nurses in the ICU should work a month long in the ED.

I so agree with this!! I'm the same, I'm not interviewing the ED nurse, I can look up most of the deets myself. What's the cc, are they oriented, what's running... I'm good after that...... Also I appreciated my ED nurses they always have the low on the family members!

HiddenAngels · Jun 19

JKL33 said:

I like it! Though curious ED minds want to know: is the IV thing so people can know which side of the bed to have IV poles ready or ? wanting to know whether the location could become problematic or...something else? I could understand wanting to know type of access but the importance of the location of PIVs has always eluded me a bit 🙂

Yes that's exactly it, to get the room prepped and ready. Also to make sure it's a good working IV for vasoactives and also to see if it's a field IV which we'll probably have to remove. The other thing is we get travel ED nurses who put in 22's sometimes and so that's another reason we'll ask..

Gratefulbutnotstupid, ASN, LPN, RN · Jul 2

ED all the way. I like the quick transitions from one patient to the next . I also like the challenges that go with being an ED nurse. You learn so much and become quickly cemented like a team if you're a regular floor staff. The day seems to fly right by as well.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 21

offlabel said:

Pick the one with better hours, pay and time off. All things being equal, then pick the unit with less drama and more mature and well adjusted co-workers

My advice would be to pick the one with the best manager, the best orientation program and the most support for new nurses. You'll want to get a good foundation in the basics. You'll *need* to get a good foundation in the basics, to be socialized to the nursing world, to learn to do a fast, focused assessment and to learn those "skills" we all talk about in a timely and efficient manner.

Much as I want to say to choose ICU (because I've loved ICU since 1983), I don't think it's as important which specialty you choose as it is to choose a supportive place to work where you'll learn good habits, have coworkers who you can trust to have your back and the most learning opportunities.

FiremedicMike, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 21

Ruby Vee said:

My advice would be to pick the one with the best manager, the best orientation program and the most support for new nurses. You'll want to get a good foundation in the basics. You'll *need* to get a good foundation in the basics, to be socialized to the nursing world, to learn to do a fast, focused assessment and to learn those "skills" we all talk about in a timely and efficient manner.

Not to be argumentative but this advice is given a lot and it isn't realistic. Most nurse applicants have no way to know which program is more supportive, which manager is better, which system has the best new grad onboarding, etc .

Tstef_1, MSN, RN · Jul 21

Now that it's been a few months, what did you end up choosing? Did you start yet?

offlabel · Jul 21

FiremedicMike said:

Not to be argumentative but this advice is given a lot and it isn't realistic. Most nurse applicants have no way to know which program is more supportive, which manager is better, which system has the best new grad onboarding, etc .

If doing due diligence and conscientious and intentional inquiry (ie asking questions of people that should know), then it isn't realistic. But there's no reason why a well prepared professional can't get an accurate vibe from having conversations with the right people. Odd thing to say.

gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN · Jul 22

Tstef_1 said:

Now that it's been a few months, what did you end up choosing? Did you start yet?

So I ended up going with an ICU position. It ultimately boiled down to the organization, manager, and unit culture.

FiremedicMike, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 22

offlabel said:

If doing due diligence and conscientious and intentional inquiry (ie asking questions of people that should know), then it isn't realistic. But there's no reason why a well prepared professional can't get an accurate vibe from having conversations with the right people. Odd thing to say.

I don't think many applicants have the knowledge or access to the "right people" to get the real scoop on a job.