ICU vs ER

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jul 3, 2008

I've worked both. It really depends. If you are the guy who likes to fix 'em and never see them again, (except for frequent flyers) ER is for you. That being said, you don't get to see all the high-tech interventions and continuity of care in ICU. You rarely even hear what happens to the pts you admit. You have to quickly assess and prioritize in ER, and move on to the next pt. That's what I didn't like. (along with the drug seekers and alcoholics bleeding from the mouth) I didn't EVER have a free second to think about what was going on with the pt. Maybe some ER nurses will tell you differently. That's just my opinion. I am much more at home in an ICU setting. I love all the equipment, and just having 1-2 pts to know everything about. Though sometimes you get tired of having people sit in ICU for weeks. You do get great assessment and critical thinking skills there.

You can go from ER to ICU, and do great, and you can go from ICU to ER and do great. You will gain great skill sets with either. You're also not consigning yourself to a lifetime of service in ER or ICU. You can always move on to choice #2 later....

bluefabian · Jul 3, 2008

Why not something else? ER and Critical Care is so typical male areas. I was placed there once out and didn't object because of it was my first job. It was great but I think I should experience more field.

silentRN · Jul 4, 2008

Well, besides that there isn't really too much out there to do. I'm already doing med-surg.

mcknis · Jul 7, 2008

Well, besides that there isn't really too much out there to do. I'm already doing med-surg.

Dude...this is sooooo not true. You just haven't founf your niche yet. Nursing is so broad and there are soooo many areas to go into. I still am unsure as far as where I want to go into, but just from browsing around, there are so many career paths and specialities to look into. Good luck with whatver your decision, but there will always be a job out there, and if one doesn't suit you, there are other specialities to choose from.

TLCinCICU · Jul 8, 2008

I worked pulmonary/telemetry as a new grad. I then transitioned to an intermediate care unit, with long-term, vent-dependent patients. That was just enough of a taste of ICU level care that I transferred into an ICU setting. I LOVE it! There is a lot of immediate gratification in what I do. I see bad numbers/assessment findings...I do something about it. If that doesn't work, I do something else - working closely with the doctors all the way.

I have a theory as to why so many male nurses wind up in ER or ICU. For ER, it's the adrenaline surges. You can get those in ICU settings, too - but you get to work with lots of electronics! What guy doesn't like gadgets!?!?!? lol

silentRN · Jul 8, 2008

Well. I've made up my mind. I want to do ICU nursing when my time is finished here on the floor i'm on already. Now my next delima is: Do I want to stay here in Tucson, Arizona working at UMC (because it's a wonderful Magnet teaching hospital), or do I want to do ICU nursing in Oregon or Colorado? I've been leaning on Oregon. I still don't know yet. Got some tuff decisions ahead.

-David H.

Larry77, RN · Jul 8, 2008

Why would you want to come up here to Oregon? You like hunting/fishing? I've always lived in SW Washington so I don't know any different but I'm always curious when someone says they want to come up to the NW.

I'm glad you decided on ICU it sounded like that was what you wanted in your original post. If you've been exposed to ED and you didn't think it was for you than you are probably right--takes a special "crazy" person to love the ED :) like me!

silentRN · Jul 8, 2008

I hear Oregon is a nice place to live. I'm sick of the desert here in arizona.

sean5732 · Oct 1, 2008

I often think the OR is best... people are already out when you get them and when you leave them.