Job placement help for new grad

[RNMeg]

I graduated May 7th, and I'm awaiting my ATT so I can take the NCLEX. I have an interview on May 24th with the hospital that paid my BSN tuition in exchange for 4 years of work. The purpose of the interview is to determine what area we would fit into best, based on their assessment of us and our preferences. That's where I'm running into a bit of a problem.

All throughout nursing school, I was fascinated by tele and cardiac patients. I would love to work on a cardiac floor, but I have some reservations and could use some advice on where to request placement.

I would love to work in CVICU, and if I could be placed there straight out of school, I would be elated. Unfortunately, this hospital rarely places new grads directly into ICU. Also, I would be worried that I couldn't hack it. I'm aware of my limitations as far as assessments and skills as a new grad, and I think I would be served better in my career if I learned the ropes in a less acute area.

My other option is PCCU, a general stepdown unit that takes patients from all ICUs in the hospital, not just cardiac. It does involve tele, there's a 4:1 ratio which I'm comfortable with, and I could develop critical care skills and experience with less acute patients. The drawback is that I could be given any patients - pulmonary, renal, etc. Those areas don't hold my interest the way cardiac does, but on the other hand, I would have a vast knowledge base that I could apply to many areas after my 4 year commitment.

My final option is Cardiac Medical. They have specifically cardiac patients - r/o MI, COPD exacerbation, etc - and I did my preceptorship on a similar unit at a different hospital (although it was stepdown), so it's disease processes etc that I'm already familiar with. The drawback is that their ratio is 6-8:1, and while I understand that on a medical unit the patients tend to be less acute, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle a patient load that high, and get things like meds out on time and charting assessments completed.

This is really long, so thank you to anyone who actually read the whole thing Mostly this thread was a way for me to get all my reasons for and against each unit out of my head and down on paper somewhere. Any constructive advice would be appreciated. This all may wind up being moot anyway, if the administrators feel I'd be a better fit in some place not listed here. I realize I'm lucky to have an interview, much less choices on where to be placed, and I would make the most of anywhere they placed me. They just wanted us to come up with our top 2 to help guide their decisions, I guess, so here I am trying to do that

[santamonicarn]

Be happy that you are set up, and during your interview you will determine what the recruiter thinks you are suited for. Ask for tele which is a nice compromise between your choice dilemmas. Perhaps go for wherever their greatest need is - as a team player. Regardless, you'll learn a lot wherever your initial training begins. BTW, what state are you from? Good luck with your endeavors.

[RNMeg]

Thanks for your reply :) Yes, I'm definitely grateful that I have a job somewhere, especially reading how new grads are struggling across the country (as well as in my own class..as far as I know, only those of us who signed contracts have jobs yet). I've promised to myself that no matter where in the hospital I get placed, I will make the most of it. I'm in Tucson, Arizona.

[JenRN30, BSN]

Meg,

I personally would choose the PCCU. That 6-8:1 ratio for the cardiac telemetry floor would scare the heck out of me. With the PCCU, you may be seeing cardiac, pulmonary, and renal pts, but you will learn so much and really see how these systems all work together. I'm willing to bet that if you go to this floor, you won't continue to think of having pts with multiple issues like this as a "drawback". I work on a floor like this, and love it. I've been working almost 3 months, and can't believe how much I've learned. And, after a year or so, request a transfer to CVICU. That's my vote. Let us know what happens.

[RNMeg]

Jen, thank you so much for your response. I was already leaning towards PCCU anyway, but the way you phrased your advice makes so much sense, I think my decision is made it's great to hear from someone with your background - almost like listening to myself from the future

[JenRN30, BSN]

Meg,

I only have a few months experience now, but I'm so glad that I picked my unit to work on. I think you'll be really happy with your decision. Good luck to you!!!

[LoveANurse09]

Go with PCCU. I work a cardiac medical floor and most nights i can barely handle our 5:1 ratio. Believe me, you'll begin to hate those cardiac pt when you have 8 of them!