General peds or NICU opportunity

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  1. Should I take general peds and hope for NICU later, or commute to NICU?

    • 9
      Take amazing pediatric opportunity, use experience to get NICU later
    • 10
      Suck it up and commute to the NICU position, it's worth it

12 members have participated

Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

I'm extremely fortunate to be given an opportunity to work at an amazing magnet hospital in a new nurse residency program that lasts 10 months to 1 year on a general (med-surg) pediatric floor. It's an amazing hospital, the pay is amazing, the residency program I've heard only amazing things, and it's about a 20 minute quick train ride from home.

While I do love pediatrics, my true passion and goal is to become a NICU nurse. Unfortunately, this hospital won't allow new graduates to start in the NICU, even in a year long residency program. So, my first question would be, would it be a good first step to get this experience in general pediatrics before possibly getting the chance to work in a NICU? I've heard from so many people that NICU's almost prefer a fresh new grad over anyone with other experience due to the fact that the NICU is so unique, and I would hate for this year of experience in nursing to actually work against me. I also have much more of an affinity to the infant/neonatal population than I do for all of pediatrics; I cannot imagine myself trying to convince a patient to take their PO medications for 30 minutes or more, like I've heard some pediatric nurses complaining about.. especially when I have so many other patients to take care of.

Aside from the main question, I may also possibly have ANOTHER opportunity to work in a nurse residency program in an amazing, Level III NICU. Also about 1 year long. The problem with this is the pay is significantly less than the general pediatrics position, and even worse, the commute would be about an hour and a half (3 hours there and back). The pay is not anywhere near as concerning to me as the commute. The NICU is a dream to me, but I'm definitely concerned about my quality of life and the amount of stress I would be under commuting so long, along with being a new grad in an ICU setting. Also, during the beginning of the residency program, we start on days, 5 days a week, about 9-5 with shadowing and classroom/simulation lab work. This lasts for a few months of the year long residency program, and commuting 3 hours a day, 5 days a week would be pretty grueling to me compared to the 3 hour commute once I'm doing my three 12 hour shifts.

Sorry for the loaded information/questions. Basically, I wanted to see everyone's advice.

Do you think I should take the position in general peds and apply to NICU after the year of experience?

How likely do you think I could get into the NICU in the same hospital after working meds? The hospital is an amazing magnet hospital and so close to home. Pays amazing.

Do you think it would be absolutely crazy to commute that long, two trains and a bus for an hour and a half to work at a level III NICU? Not a magnet hospital, but I've heard great things as well. I somehow think it could be worth it to get the experience there, then apply to the hospitals' NICUs near me. I can use that NICU experience to work anywhere, where as the general pediatric experience may not transfer to NICUs.

Thank you very much for your time and advice, I really appreciate it.

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Do you not have a car? Can you not move closer to the hospital? If you like NICU as much as you say then it should be a no-brainer. But if you're more flexible the peds one sounds nice.

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If NICU is your goal then you should do whatever you can to start in the NICU. It's an entirely different world and while the skills you develop in peds would definitely help, the best option is to learn in the NICU from the very start.

While the commute is long, I currently drive about an hour to my NICU job and a few podcasts make the time fly by.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

I just moved to the city, not thinking this would even be an issue since almost all the hospitals are close to my apartment. The city is so over saturated with nurses/newgrads that it's hard to get a position at all, let alone in a NICU. Re locating would not be an option right now or anytime soon.

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Specializes in NICU.

Take the peds position. Some NICUs only hire nurses with experience (which sounds like it may be the case for this particular hospital) and a 1.5 hour one way commute for a 12 hour position is ridiculous. When would you sleep? You will gets lots of good experience with parents, developmental care, and principles of pediatric care. Sometimes you have to take the round-about way to get to your end goal.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

I'm now leaning toward the pediatric position, since the commute is only 20 minutes and the pay is 15K more a year. But my heart keeps telling me to try and make the NICU position work. The commute is really the only thing stopping me.

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The commute wouldn't bother me, I drove 2hrs one way for a great paying job for 18 months. The 15k pay cut would be the deal breaker.

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I think the commute would burn you out, dream job or not. Take the peds. Jmho =) Good luck with whatever you decide!

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If you let the commute stop you, I think you'll regret it. If your heart is really in the NICU then you need to take your shot and get in there.

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

If you have the opportunity to start in NICU, and are sure that's what you want to do, I would definitely jump on it. It's true, the NICU IS a world all of its own. It's like nowhere else, and if you come from somewhere else, you will be "unlearning" habits and ways to do things when you go to NICU. If that's where your heart is, go for it.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

The thing with a long commute is this: what if there is bad weather, backed up traffic, etc. Many places are not giving when it comes to being late for any reason. Many do

not even care if the weather is horrendous, snow days/inclement weather days are only given if a certain percentage call out.

The train bus schedule: what if you get out late or stay over, will the schedule atill be okay? Especially if you are working 12 hour shifts.

I know NICU is what you really want, but this commute is long. Can you move closer? Just some other variables to take into consideration.

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sublet your apartment if you signed a lease, and move closer?

idk what i would do, probably the easier route, but when its your dream, its your dream :)

plus if your single and don't have other responsibilities, do the commute

its your call, where is your heart and what are you willing to do for it.

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