Critical Care University

[arv]

Hello to all! My apologies right off the back for a question that has been bandied about time and again; I just want to put a different spin on it. I will be graduating in May and know that I would like to be an ER nurse. I have been thinking (and reading all the previous posts) about whether or not I should do a year of M/S before going to ER, or going to the ER directly out of school. Obviously this has been talked about before - over and over! But, I have a new option now. A local hospital is offering a ten-month "Critical Care University" that (according to their Nurse Recruiter) is designed specifically to "bridge the gap" between new RN's and an RN that is able to efficiently work ER, ICU, PACU & tele. I think this sounds like it could be right up my alley. What do you think? If I skip the program, I will not be able to do it later, it is only for new RN's. But, do you think I will be sorry that I didn't do at least a year in M/S before just transferring to ER the normal way? Thanks!

[cousx2]

the way my preceptor with 35 years of experience put it was: "med-surg floors make med-surg nurses. the er makes er nurses." i do not subscribe to the old school thinking that med-surg nursing is the only way to learn how to be a nurse and it sounds like your hospital doesn't either. that's why they're offering this course to new nurses only.

i just got my nursing license in july and i am currently taking my hospital's version of your hospital's "critical care university" and i love it! they are paying me to learn!!!! paying me to do what i love to do! does it get any better??? like you, i knew even before i started nursing school where i wanted to work: the ed. i also know that eventually, i want to move to the icu environment. working in med-surg is a waste of time, to me, when i know i hate it and am poorly suited to that environment.

if you know this is what you want to do, then take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. if you love the critical care environment and the er as much as i do, you won't regret it.

[deeDawntee, RN]

Oh My God! What a wonderful idea! Go for it, do it and what a dream come true...