Med/Surg or ED?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ED.

Hi everyone,

I have been out of work for 2 years now due to an illness that has since been resolved. Most of my experience have been in the ED (4 years) and Telemetry (2 years + Charge). I currently have two job prospects, one is in a prestigious M/S unit in the Chicago area where I could have a potential to become a Charge nurse right away due to my experience and the other one is a Staff RN in a level 1 trauma center ED in the Chicago area as well. I am also a few months away from finishing my FNP degree. So I don't know which one will benefit my future goal more which is to become an Advanced Practice Provider.

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You already had 4 years of experience in the ED, but was it a trauma center also? If not, then I think the trauma center will expose and provide you with new experiences... something that you haven't had in the past. This could help you later on when you work as an advanced practice provider.

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Specializes in ED.
14 minutes ago, ppham said:

You already had 4 years of experience in the ED, but was it a trauma center also? If not, then I think the trauma center will expose and provide you with new experiences... something that you haven't had in the past. This could help you later on when you work as an advanced practice provider.

That previous experience was from a Level 2 Trauma Center. It's just that I've been out of work for almost two years and I am considering the M/S position because of the slower pace/charge nurse role and it would expose me to a lot of disease process. The Level 1 trauma center is in a nicer part of Chicago so I don't think they get the same intense cases as they get compared in the south side.

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Oh, if that is the case then yea, the m/s position will probably benefit you more. As an advanced practice provider, you will be in a leader position similar to being a charge nurse. It's a better transition for later on.

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Specializes in ED.
2 minutes ago, ppham said:

Oh, if that is the case then yea, the m/s position will probably benefit you more. As an advanced practice provider, you will be in a leader position similar to being a charge nurse. It's a better transition for later on.

I just feel that once you've specialized in the ED, it is hard to go back to floor nursing. But I did love my time in Tele. I think it made me a well-rounded newbie RN. I guess it boils down to whoever offers quick and more. Both hospitals are top 3 in the state.

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Med-surg is not a slower pace. I would take the ED job.

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Specializes in ED.
4 hours ago, RNperdiem said:

Med-surg is not a slower pace. I would take the ED job.

Thanks for the input. The M/S is more like an observation unit with 3-4 patients. But both facilities are magnet status and have good nurse to patient ratios. M/S is straight night shift with potential to move to days asap. ED is rotating shift eve/night.

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ED will prepare you better for your plan to become an FNP since you will be able to see and care for patients across the age continuum from neonates to geriatrics. MS are mainly adult to geriatric clients.

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Specializes in ED.
5 minutes ago, perc71 said:

ED will prepare you better for your plan to become an FNP since you will be able to see and care for patients across the age continuum from neonates to geriatrics. MS are mainly adult to geriatric clients.

Thank you. We'll see what offer I'd get from these two places. I should know in the next two weeks.

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