decision..psych or telemetry? help!

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

where do you see yourself in 5 years? do you want to be a psych nurse and possibly become certified in it? Or do you eventually want to be in a critical care area?

ddoyle313 · Oct 4, 2011

I see myself in critical care or ER.. This was honestly my dream job three months ago! Im just feeling a bit apprehensive because I feel like im letting my current manager down

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

you will always feel that way when you leave a solid work unit and cohesive team, I feel the same way even tho I'm moving 1200 miles away, still a bit of guilt because my ER works so well toegether. If you want ER then staying in psych will set that back, you'll most likely end up going to a med/surg unit and working your way back up, the tele unit will provide a very solid stepping stone to the critical care unit or ER in the future.

magnum68 · Oct 5, 2011

Hi guys Im new to all nurses! Im looking for some opinions regarding a job decision I have to make. I graduated in June as an RN and am one month into a fulltime psych nursing position. I was just called today for an interview at the hospital my school was affiliated with. There were no positions available when I graduated but now they have two. I really enjoy the tubes and lines part of nursing and was really disappointed when I could find a job at a hospital right away. Im going to write a list of pros and cons of what each job means for me! Let me know what you think...
Psych Center
Pros
Worked there as a tech before I was a Rn so familiar with staff and culture.
Right around the corner from my house.
Great pay in my opinion.. plenty of overtime.
Nice coworkers.
Get to use my undergrad psych degree and make myself feel better about paying off loans lol
Finally getting used to how nurses function there
28 vacation days a year
Fulltime benefits
Get to spend time with the patients
Cons
Not what I went to school to do and feel like Im loosing assessment skills
NO computers..i mean none..all paper kardexs for passing meds
No Iv therapy.. I only dress minor wounds, administer IM, subq and ppds
Small establishment, no chance to move up just move around
I dont really feel like a nurse sometimes bc the techs can do alot of the same things as the nurses and vice versa..only difference is nurses do meds, paperwork and dressings
Sometimes fear for my life when the patients are paranoid and think im talking about them lol
Hospital
Pros
Work on a Telemetry floor!!
All computerized systems
Tubes and lines galore
Use the skills I learned and love
Get to work where I trained and with some of the people I went to school with
Opportunity to get experience to get where I want to be... The ER!
Cons
30 min drive to bad area
Less pay (so i hear)..more work
The floor is notoriously known for dumping on new nurses
It smells horrible...no im serious.. the elevator opens and you beg for it to close!
Busiest floor in the hospital
May be a fulltime 40 hour a week, 8 hour a day evening position.. I might not make it
No clue about benefits, vacation etc.
What are your thoughts?!

You have a good amount of Pros in your current job. If it's not broken then don't fix it. I had to say that

demylenated, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2011

If this is in your 5 year goal plan, you have to do it. You can't look back and regret - esp since the opportunity has presented itself. You are not fulfilling your nurse manager's dream, but yours. She'll find another person to fill your spot, and in 5 years, when you are doing what you want because of this springboard job, she won't even remember you!

ddoyle313 · Oct 5, 2011

Thank all of your for the advice!! Its very much appreciated... I have alot to consider but your input makes this much easier. Im going into the interview tomorrow to see what they have to offer and taking a day to consider my where my heart is. I def. need to get over feeling bad about leaving should I have to! And who knows, maybe Ill finally be able to use my new stethoscope :)

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Oct 5, 2011

You can always ask for a shadow period, maybe a few hours to follow a nurse step for step to see how crazy it really is, good luck with the interview.

Good Morning, Gil · Oct 5, 2011

Umm..the floor smells horrible? And they dump on new nurses? I guess only you know what you want, but personally, even though the psych center is not your dream job, I would stick it out for a year just to be somewhat loyal to my current manager and then look for greener pastures. That is just what I would do, though; if your current manager did not invest any time or money in training you, then that may be a different situation. I may respond differently if you said the hospital floor didn't smell horrible, and they didn't dump on new nurses. It sounds like you have, while not a challenging job, a positive work environment. That is extremely important, at least to me, because nursing can be a nightmare in crappy work environments. I would personally wait it out for a position that was more ideal, and one in which I could actually see myself staying more long-term.

If this is your "golden opportunity," then take it. But...just do some introspection; sometimes we see things as "golden opportunities" only b/c we are burnt out at our current position and will practically take anything that comes our way only to get out. I remember I had to be very careful with this to be objective when I was looking for a new position (I could have written your post only as far as the unchallenging, routine job; my past job was not really ideal). I gave them a year and then found work that was more mentally stimulating and a better work environment. Good luck to you! I know it's not an easy decision!

RNnbakes · Oct 5, 2011

I ll stick with the current job, at least until a better unit/facility gives you a call. The unit you are interviewing for sounds crappy, and u might not last. Its a different situation if the grass was looking greener, this grass is looking dumpy.

Hold out till you get something better, depending on your area you can get into

ER without having med/surg experience.

Juwon · Oct 5, 2011

since both is appealing to you, how about going full time at the new job and remaining PRN at the current facility, therefore if you dont like the new job on the tele floor, you can always go back to the psych facility full time...Always good to have two jobs anyways in my opinion.

ElizabethScala1, BSN, MSN · Oct 5, 2011

I think you have to do what is in your heart. I am hearing through your typing and your voice an energy around the telemetry that is not really there with the psych. Do not stay somewhere because you feel obligated. And do not stay somewhere because of money. I did that, but was miserable and wasted years of my life. Do what you want because it is your passion, your dream, and meets your goals. None of us can tell you what to do; only you can. But I can give just that advice I wrote above; follow what you are feeling in your gut, choose your choice based on passion and not income, and think of your long-term goals when making shorter-term decisions. Good luck and let us know what happens!