Help a Senior Decide...Please!

nicudaynurse · Oct 3, 2003

Why don't you do both??? It is not uncommon for nurses who work in Children's hospitals to work both PICU and NICU. There will be things that you see in the PICU that you won't encounter in the NICU and vice versa. When you graduate you would need to choose one of those areas to train in and after you have trained you may be able to cross train to the other area.

Good luck!!

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2003

Well, first of all, remember that you're going to be a new grad- sometimes it can be overwhelming, no matter WHAT unit you work on. You have so much to learn!

What I'd probably be focusing on now is the staff and administration- are you choosing between units at only this facility, or are you considering others? If you are deciding between NICU and PICU in just this one children's hospital, take a long, hard look at the staff. How helpful were they to you? Did they answer your questions? Did they go out of their way to teach you new things? Did you feel nurtured by them, or pressured by them? These will be essential factors during your first year! These people will be your mentors, and you need to feel comfortable with them so that you are able to ask questions and not fear being ridiculed or talked down to.

There is a significant difference between the PICU and the NICU- PICU does get a larger variety of cases. They get accidents/traumas, we do not. NICU's do get somewhat of a "standard" array of illnessess, but that scope is not a narrow one, and it has provided me with more than ample learning opportunities. Your chances for a "typical" NICU patient are much larger working for a smaller, non-regional NICU than they are at a children's hospital: one thing about children's hospitals- those kids are SICK. For many, they get transported in from all over to get care there- out of state, out of the country, because there is no care available for them in their hometown. Babies aren't BORN in a children's hospital, they're BROUGHT. This means that these are the sickest of the sick, and that generally holds true to the PICU and every other unit. If you're looking for variety in the NICU, a regional transport hospital or children's hospital is probably the way to go.

I've heard people say they felt the NICU was boring, and I can't imagine that. To me, it is FASCINATING.

Because the PICU deals with a larger variety of cases, I'd suggest that your priority will be with new-grad orientation and preceptorship. You need to find out what this hospital offers in the way of continuing education, lecture series, inservices, etc.

This should also be a priority in ANY new job that you look for in nursing, but it is particularly relevant to PICU/NICU because at some point, you will be expected to work and function as a competent nurse, and these kids are VERY critical.

The PICU nurses I've met are extremely knowledgeable, and I admire them, but I have no interest in working in PICU personally. If I did, I know that my experience in the NICU would help, but I don't think I'll ever choose that road.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide. :)

nurse0977 · Oct 3, 2003

Great advice. I have met nothing but helpful and friendly nurses in the NICU, and think it would be a great place to start my career. It's amazing how it all makes sense when you get someone's insight who has actually been there! :)

Anyway, I think I am going to go for the NICU--THANKS!!!

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2003

Well, I've only been a nurse for 2 years, so I was in your boat a VERY short time ago. Good luck!

ainz · Oct 4, 2003

One of the great things about nursing is MOBILITY!! By working in a few different clinical settings you can decide what area you really like and round out your base of knowledge and experience at the same time. Whatever you decide to do initially does not lock you into it for your career. You have options and you can explore. Congratulations on being a senior, you are almost done!!!!!!!!!!!!!