ER vs. Telemetry.. need help

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Specializes in OBGYN.

This may seem like an obvious decision, but it's wayyyy complicated now. I'm a new RN, graduated 8 months ago and have stayed home with my new baby who is now 9 months. I wanted L&D but there were no openings. Now I have gotten 3 job offers: two at a large teaching hospital (telemetry and cardiac stepdown), and one in the ER at the main downtown hospital. Both hospitals are Magnet. All 3 of the managers are fantastic.

My gut instinct was to go for Tele since I'm brand new and I think that will make me more marketable and give me a good skills foundation, despite the boredom I'll get after a few months. However, the hours suck for us. 7-7 nights until a spot on 7-7 days opens. Either shift sucks, but especially nights, and even doing nights for a few months while on the waitlist is going to be really hard on our little family because my husband works long crazy hours 7 days a week.

ER, while I'm sure is "shark territory" for a new nurse, has the flexible, multiple shifts, ER hours. I think i'd be taking a 3p-3a shift at first, which has a much less severe sleep lag to catch up on than 7p shift, and I'd only have to have someone watch her for a few hours until my hubbs got off work as opposed to throwing her in a daycare or hiring a nanny.

So I'm at a crossroads of what's best for my career vs. what's best for my family. I need some help!

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Specializes in Family Practice Clinic.

It looks like you have answered the question yourself, take the ER, it will be good for you and your family. You will learn so much, and it will help you in the longrun.

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Specializes in ER.

Family should always come first....just keep that in mind. No accomplishment in the world can compensate for failure in the home.

Now, that makes it simpler doesn't it?

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I would hate to see you lose your job or your license by taking an ER position when you do not have experience to work in a fast paced environment in today's healthcare situations of high expectations and inadequate orientation.

You also will be much more stressed out if you are constantly worrying about getting it together and keeping an ER job that you are not prepared for. This will affect your life in worse ways than a shift you do not like.

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Specializes in OBGYN.

I understand that, but I also graduated at the top of my nursing class and consider myself an intelligent person.. I also don't believe a magnet hospital would put a new nurse in a situation that would put me at risk for losing my license. I will have a 22 week Nurse Residency and orientation both, so I don't think inadequate orientation is an issue for this situation.

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Specializes in OBGYN.

Just wondering if that changes your opinion about the ER job at all..?

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Specializes in ER.
This may seem like an obvious decision, but it's wayyyy complicated now. I'm a new RN, graduated 8 months ago and have stayed home with my new baby who is now 9 months. I wanted L&D but there were no openings. Now I have gotten 3 job offers: two at a large teaching hospital (telemetry and cardiac stepdown), and one in the ER at the main downtown hospital. Both hospitals are Magnet. All 3 of the managers are fantastic.

My gut instinct was to go for Tele since I'm brand new and I think that will make me more marketable and give me a good skills foundation, despite the boredom I'll get after a few months. However, the hours suck for us. 7-7 nights until a spot on 7-7 days opens. Either shift sucks, but especially nights, and even doing nights for a few months while on the waitlist is going to be really hard on our little family because my husband works long crazy hours 7 days a week.

ER, while I'm sure is "shark territory" for a new nurse, has the flexible, multiple shifts, ER hours. I think i'd be taking a 3p-3a shift at first, which has a much less severe sleep lag to catch up on than 7p shift, and I'd only have to have someone watch her for a few hours until my hubbs got off work as opposed to throwing her in a daycare or hiring a nanny.

So I'm at a crossroads of what's best for my career vs. what's best for my family. I need some help!

do what's best for your family, especially while your little one is so small. Once you've stepped in the ER, you can go anywhere. I have worked with others who love 3p-3a.. I have worked 9a-9p, loved that shift. I work 11a-11p now. When my son was 15 months old I started in the ER working 11a-11p and was exhausted nonstop. Partly because he woke up at 4am like clockwork every day. If your little one is a better sleeper, I'd recommend the ER for the flexible shifts. I could never do nights.... way too off the normal body rhythm for me.

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Specializes in ER.
I understand that, but I also graduated at the top of my nursing class and consider myself an intelligent person.. I also don't believe a magnet hospital would put a new nurse in a situation that would put me at risk for losing my license. I will have a 22 week Nurse Residency and orientation both, so I don't think inadequate orientation is an issue for this situation.

you'll do fine - I'd go for it. Only you know yourself, not us. It sounds as though they'll prepare you well, and I'm sure you'll find a great mentor for when things get hairy. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
I understand that, but I also graduated at the top of my nursing class and consider myself an intelligent person.. I also don't believe a magnet hospital would put a new nurse in a situation that would put me at risk for losing my license. I will have a 22 week Nurse Residency and orientation both, so I don't think inadequate orientation is an issue for this situation.

I may be flamed but here I go....I really feel you need good solid skills before you go to ER. It can be so overwhelming, stressful,very fast paced..... even when you have some experience. I also graduated top of my class & catch on very quickly....I am very glad I had ~ 1 1/2 yrs MS & Tele experience....I have been in the ER for about 6 months now & I can tell you I am still on shaky legs. Good luck on whatever you decide!

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I went straight to the ER after nursing school...and I feel that only you will know if your ready for the ER either before or during your orientation. I know that at our hospital you can swith to a new floor if your really not comfortable. Good luck :wink2:

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
I would hate to see you lose your job or your license by taking an ER position when you do not have experience to work in a fast paced environment in today's healthcare situations of high expectations and inadequate orientation.

You also will be much more stressed out if you are constantly worrying about getting it together and keeping an ER job that you are not prepared for. This will affect your life in worse ways than a shift you do not like.

I understand that, but I also graduated at the top of my nursing class and consider myself an intelligent person.. I also don't believe a magnet hospital would put a new nurse in a situation that would put me at risk for losing my license. I will have a 22 week Nurse Residency and orientation both, so I don't think inadequate orientation is an issue for this situation.

I may be flamed but here I go....I really feel you need good solid skills before you go to ER. It can be so overwhelming, stressful,very fast paced..... even when you have some experience. I also graduated top of my class & catch on very quickly....I am very glad I had ~ 1 1/2 yrs MS & Tele experience....I have been in the ER for about 6 months now & I can tell you I am still on shaky legs. Good luck on whatever you decide!

I went straight to the ER after nursing school...and I feel that only you will know if your ready for the ER either before or during your orientation. I know that at our hospital you can swith to a new floor if your really not comfortable. Good luck :wink2:

I went to the ED after five months on the CDU. Those five months were a wonderful learning experience. With that being said, I think you will be fine going to the ED. However, you have to have a passion for emergency medicine in order to survive there. If you do, GO FOR IT! Another thing, on your days off, you have to study. Yes, it sucks but get the ENA textbook, study your orientation materials and keep a list of questions for your preceptor when you return to work. Keep in mind these four criteria for working in the ED: In no paticular order, 1. Excellant time-management 2. The ability to multi-multi task :chuckle 3. Prioritze and last but not least 4. Anticipate. Another tip, make sure you can manage everything thrown at you in lower acuity rooms before you step in to higher acuity rooms or triage. Also, you have to be strong in your ability to manage a low acuity patient that suddenly takes a turn for the worse.

Enjoy the ED! :D

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Specializes in Emergency, outpatient.

I went straight into the ED in 1986 and never left. My previous experience was working as a basic EMT. I never felt like I did the wrong thing, and my evaluations never reflected that, either.

Do what is best for your family. Currently I have child care issues, too, and my shifts vary to help with that. Only the ED can offer you the flexibility of 12hr shifts that start at 9, 10, 11, 12, and 3 as well as the usual am and pm shifts.

I agree that you will get plenty of training at the magnet facilities; and you will learn more faster than you would doing floor nursing. If you need more, you can ask for it.

Good Luck and God Bless!! Congratulations on the great job offers; you should be proud of yourself. :yeah:

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