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Discussion

Choosing a unit

Hello all. Back again, looking for some advice. Today I found out that I am blessed with the tough decision of choosing between TWO (can you believe it! Two!) job offers.

Currently my ultimate goal is to work in an ER after gaining experience and learning more.

I've received offers from the med/surg unit that I did my clinicals at and loved it there. And had the future opportunity to cross train to intermediate care. And also from a observation unit that is an extension of the ER and might have some opportunities to float to other floors and maybe even the ER eventually.

I know either choice will be great for my career, but just not sure which is going to be the best option. Only looking at this from the experience point. Pay and location are the same. Though the hours will probably play a role in my choice. Med/surg is straight nights and obs is day/night roatation.

Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

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    Hard choice, the transition might not easier to the floor you know and love. The difficulty of the first year of nursing can't be underestimated, having a good rapport with the nurses on the floor and knowing where everything is could make things earlier.

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    I'd check what kind of patients you'd see in the observation unit. At my employer, observation patients are generally stable and are discharged within 24 hours. There are a lot of patients who are intoxicated (alcohol, drugs or both) and/or mentally ill. The patients can be very varied; it wouldn't be unusual to have (1) someone who drank too much and/or overdosed, (2) a post-surgical patient who was expected to go home the same day but needed to be observed overnight, (3) a little old lady from a nursing home who seems more confused than usual and fell (4) someone who came in with chest pain, (5) someone with excruciating flank pain who is getting fluids to hopefully pass that kidney stone, (6) someone with the flu, (7) a person with mental illness or dementia who was dumped at the hospital and now needs placement, (8) someone with an asthma or heart failure exacerbation.

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    Day/night rotation is hard, with the constant interruptions in your circadian rhythm. I personally would choose the straight night, med-surg job. You will develop time-management skills, learn medications, etc. An observation unit would be great, too, but I just couldn't do the day/night rotation, that is too hard on the body, and it is hard to maintain an "outside" life that way.

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    Day/night rotation is hard, with the constant interruptions in your circadian rhythm. I personally would choose the straight night, med-surg job. You will develop time-management skills, learn medications, etc. An observation unit would be great, too, but I just couldn't do the day/night rotation, that is too hard on the body, and it is hard to maintain an "outside" life that way.

    ^^^THIS^^^ I would never take a rotating shift. It would be too difficult on my body. I would be in a constant fog.

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