Job Offer Dilemma

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Hello,

I will be a future new grad nurse in December, and have recently applied to several critical care nursing residency opportunities. During one of my interviews, I was told the critical care position was being altered into a step down icu opportunity. The ICU was changing its bed numbers to include some step down icu beds. The manager stated vents would still be on the step down ICU, but that I would likely be there 6 months to a year.

I recently was notified that I got the job, but am wondering if I will be satisfied with this. My questions to you all are:

1) What is the difference between a step down icu versus an ICU?

2) Is a step down the same as a progressive care unit?

3) How would this affect my goal of being CCRN certified in the future?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Respiratory/PCU.

Only thing I can tell you is that I work on a PCU and it IS indeed stepdown ICU (for us, STD ICU & CCU) and we do have vents. It is nationally recognized as a critical care area. We do almost everything the ICU does (i.e drips but no pressors, day one post op cardiac surg pts, femoral lines, etc etc). I think STD ICU is a wonderful place for a new grad to start, especially one who wants a critical care position. We work very tightly with the ICU and CCU so i'm sure it wouldn't be hard for you to get a transfer after about 6 months (or whatever the hospital policy regarding transfers is)

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Stepdown ICU is an AWESOME opportunity for anyone who wants to branch into the critical specialties, such as ICU, PACU, etc.

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.

The level of care you describe is similar to what the new grads did in the MICU where I worked as a CNA. Only the experienced nurses got the complex trauma, CVVH, IICP, balloon pump patients and so on. The PCCN is the stepdown certification, but sounds like you'd also qualify for the CCRN from what you describe.

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Nursing_Mamacita Thank you so much for responding. I ended up going to the AACN and reading about the PCU (STD ICU), and it helped me in making my decision. I need to get out of the mindset that ICU is the end all be all and work on assessments and caring for my patients while in the step down ICU.
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not.done.yet Thanks so much for replying to me ! Thank you for reminding me that this is an awesome opportunity.. Sometimes, I forget.

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Hello boogalina, Thanks for responding. I did look at the PCCN info versus the CCRN according to the AACN. Both seem hard !
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Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.

My former coworkers who have taken the CCRN exam said it's no walk in the park, but reviewing for it plus two years on the job made it doable. Good luck!

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My former coworkers who have taken the CCRN exam said it's no walk in the park, but reviewing for it plus two years on the job made it doable. Good luck!

thanks for the advice!

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

I just transitioned from a PCU to the CVICU. I am so glad I had the step down experience first! It made it sooo much easier already being very familiar with art lines, and drips and untangling wires, tubes and lines. :) I think it'll make you a more well rounded nurse in the long run. And, as others have said you will probably find it easier to transfer because having that experience will make you a more desirable candidate.

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