ICU or ED -trying to decide

RN1982 · Nov 14, 2008

You need to do what's right for you. Personally, I'd rather stay in ICU, but that's just me. I know ER nursing is not for me.

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 14, 2008

Why not go hang out there for a shift or two and see what you think?

dfuller097 · Nov 14, 2008

Challenged board using military equivilancy because I was a corpsman. Computered stopped at 85 on NCLEX PN and cant get results for 4 weeks cause I live in California. 85 stopped bad or good? racking my brains.

RN1982 · Nov 14, 2008

. 85 stopped bad or good? racking my brains.

We wouldn't be able to tell you that.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2008

Do you like finding out first hand what stupid human trick was attempted (work ER) or do you like fixing the problem after the labs and tests have confirmed the trick was successful(work ICU)?

Dinith88 · Nov 14, 2008

Hey guys, just wanting a bit of a discussion as I'm trying to decide which area of nursing to return to after a few months off on maternity leave. I have a few years experience working in ICU and generally speaking enjoy icu nursing. I have many friends working in ED who love it and would now never work anywhere other than ED. Many of them are trying to talk me into ED instead of returning to ICU. what do you guys think? has anyone made the switch and if so what are the comparisons and do you enjoy ED more? thanks heaps for any thoughts. xxoxo:redpinkhe

1) What do you 'enjoy' about ICU?

2)What do you suspect you'll 'enjoy' in ER?

3) make a list.

4)compare them.

5)make a decision.

chef2rn · Nov 14, 2008

I started in ICU a few years ago as a kind of stepping stone to ED, and I sometimes float there. After I had a baby last year a couple things changed:

I realized that I was going to have a really hard time seeing babies & kids in bad situations. For the most part it's all clinic in our ED (urgent care stuff), trauma goes to another hospital, but occasionally there's abuse or a SIDS case. Before I had a baby I could put some distance there. Now I'm a wreck when I here about the burns, drownings, car accidents, etc from a friend at the trauma hospital ED. Of course, it is probably possible to develop healthy coping strategies, but I'm glad to be with just adults for now.

Also, I liked coming back to something familiar to get back up speed. I was kind of spacey & distracted for a while post-partum & my brain couldn't take in the same volumes of new info & make it stick. Again, that's MY experience, but I felt pretty challenged with the new skills at home. This is my first kid, though.

I still like being able to float to ED & now that my baby's a year & things have settled down, I'm considering spending more time there.

I hope that input helps. Good luck.

audreyhepburn · Nov 14, 2008

Hey thanks so much for your reply. Since you have worked in both areas you would know now the difference between the two. what do you enjoy about ICU and what do you enjoy about ED?

chef2rn · Nov 15, 2008

Hmmm, well, I spend most of the time in ICU. I like the continuity & seeing what happens with my patients. I've just learned CRRT & want to do more of it--fun! I like being able to focus on 1 or 2 patients. I don't see quite as much of the psych stuff, which is fine with me. And again, no kids--I am not PALS certified & not too confident with my pedi skills. Also, I work in a very supportive, team-oriented unit. There's a lot of collegiality among the RNs, docs, RTs, etc.

On the other hand, I do like the "never know what's coming next" action in the ED. It's a great place for me to learn to focus my assessments & prioritize. There are days when it's fine with me to see a patient for a couple of hours & then be done with him/her. Since I don't spend as much time there, the "system" & pace can be a little frustrating.

there you go...

loricatus · Nov 16, 2008

As another poster questioned, what is it about ICU that you enjoy and dislike? The answer to this will help to assist you.

For instance, if you like the intense focus of dealing with one or two patients, then you will have a hard time adjusting to the focused assessments needed for ER and become frustrated with the decisions made by the medical staff that ignore anything but the chief complaint. If you say that the autonomy you have in the ICU is what you like, then you will thrive in the ER.

Whether the switch is the right thing for you is dependent upon what your style of nursing is; and, although others may have made the switch successfully, it may or may not be the right way to go for you.