First Job, Which Unit?

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Hello Friends,

I am trying to decide between two positions, and could use some help. I'm in a lucky position, I know!! This will be my first nursing job.

My choices are a medical respiratory unit (COPD, vents, traechs, pneumonia, with some medical overflow) or a neuro-trauma unit (new concept, neuro with nuerotrauma and general trauma including abdominal, ortho and thoracic trauma...think stepdown and neuro combined). The hospital just became a level 2 trauma center.

Which one do you think is a better opportunity? The medical respiratory unit has a rotating schedule, which I've heard is pretty tough to get used to.

Thanks for your advice!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
1 hour ago, simonedbv said:

Hello Friends,

I am trying to decide between two positions, and could use some help. I'm in a lucky position, I know!! This will be my first nursing job.

My choices are a medical respiratory unit (COPD, vents, traechs, pneumonia, with some medical overflow) or a neuro-trauma unit (new concept, neuro with nuerotrauma and general trauma including abdominal, ortho and thoracic trauma...think stepdown and neuro combined). The hospital just became a level 2 trauma center.

Which one do you think is a better opportunity? The medical respiratory unit has a rotating schedule, which I've heard is pretty tough to get used to.

Thanks for your advice!

This is your first position, and you have so much to learn! It really doesn't matter what patient population you choose -- they are both great opportunities as far as learning. What you need to consider is which of them is the better environment for learning all that you have to learn. Is one of the managers more supportive, more willing to work with a new grad or have a better orientation plan laid out? Does one unit have a warmer, friendlier staff? Does one unit have dedicated preceptors, or will they just pair you with someone different every day? Are there central education classes to help you learn things like near checks, tracheostomy's care, ventilators, etc.? Is there an active respiratory therapy team?

Are both of these opportunities in the same hospital? How do the pay and benefits compare? What's the commute like? Do they have self scheduling or not?

From the information you've given, they're both good opportunities. About the rotating schedule -- at least the Med/Resp unit is honest about the rotating. The other may have a rotating schedule, too. Rotating was my favorite shift for years and years -- just about the time you're losing your mind over being on nights, it's time to work day shift. And when all of the hubbub on days starts driving you crazy, it's time to work nights again! As a new nurse, that's the schedule I'd choose.

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Thanks so much for your reply. Both of the positions are at the same hospital, and they appear to have the same orientation model, and central education classes (the formal orientation is quite lengthy). I don't know about the staff on either unit, but both nurse managers who interviewed me were EXTREMELY nice and professional.

I'm glad to hear you think they're both good opportunities. I'm still on the fence, and hoping I just get one job offer, because I'm going crazy wondering what I'll do with these two offers if I have to decide.

One thing I do know about myself is that I can get freaked out if I have too much ongoing stress, and I think perhaps the medical respiratory unit will be a bit less stressful. There are many new CVA patients in the neuro-trauma, and I think the family dynamics would be hard to handle (people coping with loved one having a stroke). Respiratory is more chronic, so perhaps less of that one that unit?

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my post, I appreciate your feedback.

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Specializes in Varied.
3 hours ago, simonedbv said:

One thing I do know about myself is that I can get freaked out if I have too much ongoing stress, and I think perhaps the medical respiratory unit will be a bit less stressful. There are many new CVA patients in the neuro-trauma, and I think the family dynamics would be hard to handle (people coping with loved one having a stroke). Respiratory is more chronic, so perhaps less of that one that unit?

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my post, I appreciate your feedback.

Vents & trachs are just as traumatizing to patients as CVAs. Be mindful that you may have patients on vents who have had a stroke. I work on a pulmonary unit, much like the one you've described, and our unit takes EVERY trach, EVERY vent, EVERY NIV patient, EVERY chest tube...

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Thanks for your response, that's good information. I've been researching more about care in the pulmonary unit and it's pretty diverse! Lots to learn. And I'm going to be working on my therapeutic communication so I'm able to say the right things to families to provide comfort and information to them.

Thanks again.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
15 hours ago, simonedbv said:

Thanks so much for your reply. Both of the positions are at the same hospital, and they appear to have the same orientation model, and central education classes (the formal orientation is quite lengthy). I don't know about the staff on either unit, but both nurse managers who interviewed me were EXTREMELY nice and professional.

I'm glad to hear you think they're both good opportunities. I'm still on the fence, and hoping I just get one job offer, because I'm going crazy wondering what I'll do with these two offers if I have to decide.

One thing I do know about myself is that I can get freaked out if I have too much ongoing stress, and I think perhaps the medical respiratory unit will be a bit less stressful. There are many new CVA patients in the neuro-trauma, and I think the family dynamics would be hard to handle (people coping with loved one having a stroke). Respiratory is more chronic, so perhaps less of that one that unit?

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my post, I appreciate your feedback.

There is going to be stress in both units, but you're right to think of the stress you can handle more easily. Whichever job you are offered or accept, you'll be getting a great start in nursing. Good luck!

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2 hours ago, Ruby Vee said:

There is going to be stress in both units, but you're right to think of the stress you can handle more easily. Whichever job you are offered or accept, you'll be getting a great start in nursing. Good luck!

Thanks very much ?

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13 hours ago, inthecosmos said:

Vents & trachs are just as traumatizing to patients as CVAs. Be mindful that you may have patients on vents who have had a stroke. I work on a pulmonary unit, much like the one you've described, and our unit takes EVERY trach, EVERY vent, EVERY NIV patient, EVERY chest tube...

Thanks for your response, that's good information. I've been researching more about care in the pulmonary unit and it's pretty diverse! Lots to learn. And I'm going to be working on my therapeutic communication so I'm able to say the right things to families to provide comfort and information to them.

Thanks again.

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Specializes in Varied.
On 2/4/2019 at 4:14 PM, simonedbv said:

Thanks for your response, that's good information. I've been researching more about care in the pulmonary unit and it's pretty diverse! Lots to learn. And I'm going to be working on my therapeutic communication so I'm able to say the right things to families to provide comfort and information to them.

Thanks again.

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It is a great unit to learn on! You'll gain a plethora of insight that will shape your career.

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