Job Offer- My choice of unit- HELP!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone!

I'm a grad-to-be in June! :nurse: I went on my first interview yesterday and today I received an email with a job offer! :yeah: How awesome! I have been offered my choice between ED, ICU and Neuro/Trauma. Now, my heart and soul longs to be a L&D Nurse one day. In fact, this next Friday I have an interview at the same hospital that this job offer is from for a L&D position. They need a reply as soon as possible because they are still interviewing about 30 more applicants to fill the New Grad Internship positions. So, I need to reply one way or the other before I go on my interview for L&D.

I am asking for help/advice/opinions- :typingwhich unit sets me up better for L&D someday if I don't get the opportunity to go directly into L&D after graduation? I'm doing my preceptorship in L&D this next term, but if I had to choose between NEURO or ICU, which one is the better "stepping stone"? (I'm not intereseted in the ED).

Yours Truly,

TwoAngels:saint:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

L&D is a completely different world... but I would advise you to go to ICU, more challenging and it will better prepare you in sh*t hits the fan in the L&D

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Thank you, I appreciate your comment happyloser!

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Specializes in NICU, Psych, Med/Onc,Ped Home Health.

hello twoangels...

i have to agree with happyloser; all 3 of your choices are totally different animals. but if you have to choose one, then i would suggest you choice icu as well. you will learn quite a bit, and who knows? i work in the nicu, and we have had a icu rn recently transition to nicu, and she is doing great! my advice to you is follow your heart and don't settle for "what's available." if you settle, then you will never be happy. i started out in medical/oncology (did that for a year), done some long term/skilled nursing, also tired pediatric home health (loved working with the kids, but mountains of paperwork!), worked with alzheimers patients, and even some psych/chemical dependency nursing. but my heart has always been with kids; when i saw that a nicu position was available through an ad in our local paper, i jumped at the opportunity. been doing nicu for 3 years now (been an rn for over 6 years now). congrats on graduating and best of luck in your new nursing career! you will find it discouraging at times, but you will find out that it is also very rewarding. good luck! :yeah:

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful, detailed advice nightwolf!

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Specializes in ICU.

Being an ICU nurse myself, it was an awesome opportunity for me to go into ICU just six months after graduation. I was a lucky duck. After about three years of experience, my pay sky rocketed, and my career has bloomed. I am making more money now than I could ever have imagined being a nurse only six years.

Once you get ICU experience, most managers believe that you can do anything. That's what I've been told ... anyway..

Good luck on your choice . :)

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Thanks, MagSulfate. Being an ICU nurse- do you have to deal with a lot of patient mortality on your unit?

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Specializes in ICU.

Some. It becomes part of the job when you are a nurse. It can get depressing if you let it. But there ore those other times when LIFE continues, and someone actually gets better.. those times shine through the dark hours.

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Specializes in ER, Step-Down.

ICU seems to be the overwhelming opinion on this thread. :) My L&D clinical instructor was an ICU nurse for YEARS before going to L&D and it showed - one day a resident brought his wife in quite suddenly - precipitous labor - and my instructor practically delivered that baby with the most amazing amount of calm, cool, collectedness ever. Baby was crying not even 15 minutes after she arrived on the floor. Heck, the doc barely made it into the room!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

icu - better and more extensive training. my experience over the years is that the grads who go into the er do not get the same type of nurturing and training that the ones going into the icu do. but, interview for the ob position as well. you can always take the ob position if it is offered to you.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Hey everyone!

I'm a grad-to-be in June! :nurse: I went on my first interview yesterday and today I received an email with a job offer! :yeah: How awesome! I have been offered my choice between ED, ICU and Neuro/Trauma. Now, my heart and soul longs to be a L&D Nurse one day. In fact, this next Friday I have an interview at the same hospital that this job offer is from for a L&D position.

What???? I thought there were NO new grad opportunities. :D Many congratulations that is a great spot to be in! I was going to say ED simply because you will get all the above as well as peds contact but it sounds like ICU is the general consensus. Please keep us posted.

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Well, my gut is saying ICU.... and so far y'all have confirmed that for me. Thank you! I am a little scared because of the acuity of ICU patients but I believe that the classroom time and the training will be excellent for me.

So, in this circumstance, can I hear opinions of how to best handle my acceptance of this position? Do I accept it without saying a word about my L&D interview? Then, if by some God-given miracle I get offered L&D, what do I do then? Do I have to notify HR that I am going to accept a L&D position before I can accept the L&D position? Both of these positions would be at the same hospital. I'm unsure of how to proceed.

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