ER vs Neuro/surgical ICU - summer externship

[simvee]

I have a dilemma. I am a nursing student. I can take an ER externship at a great hospital with a great reputation where I wouldn't mind working when I graduate. But it's 40 hours a week, 8 hour days, and I will have trouble maintaining my current employment (read: insurance!) during that time! It'll be tricky juggling both at once - I may have to work 7 days a week!

Or I could take a neuro/surg/trauma ICU position at a very large teaching facility with something like 7 ICUs. I'd much rather do MICU, which is the kind of ICU I currently work in as a tech. I feel the neuro ICU will be kind of limited, while in ER I'd see everything. But this position is 12 hour days, which means I can work around it at my real job quite nicely.

Will neuro ICU limit my experience? Would I shortchange myself not going to the ER at a great hospital, where I'd probably get great experience and have my foot in the door for future employment?

Chris

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

It always comes down to your individual needs, but to answer the question about neuro---- I found it VERY challenging. No two patients are the same. There is so much you can learn that would be beneficial in ICU or ER or any critical care area.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

If it is of any help... I often hear ER nurses say that they wish they had CU skills... remember CU stuff is where the heavy skills come into play...(all those tubes and wires...Oh my!). Very complex stuff goes on!!!

Just a student, but a CU is where I'd go first especially since its a teaching hospital, a big plus!