Am I Crazy? Because I don't think I am!

Specialties MICU

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

I am about to graduate from an ADN program, I just finished my practicum on the ICU floor, I already have a nursing position lined up after graduation with the same system but at the smaller med/surg unit near me. For the past 2 weeks they keep asking me to switch to their floor and cross train to the ER (I'll also have my ACLS by the time I get my license) I keep telling them not right now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely looooooved ICU & ER and plan on going down the critical care path, BUT I just really feel that while I could do the job now, I could do the job ALOT better after a year or so on a med/surg floor, I'm extremely pleased and flattered that they want me on their unit as a GN and brand new RN, and I guess I'm better on the floor than I thought I was. But even the docs say I'm crazy to want to do med/surg but where else am I really going to get good at time management? Time management with 2 critical patients has been very easy for me, but 5-7 medical patients is a whole new ball game that I want a few innings of for experience. My hubby really doesn't care which position I take as long as I'm happy with it, part of me feels like I'd be bailing on the unit I already agreed to work on (I am currently their unit clerk so I have a good relationship with the managers, DON, nurses and docs already built) darn loyalty bone lol So my question to experienced critical care nurses is, am I crazy to not jump at the offer and opportunity?

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Specializes in gen icu/ neuro icu/ trauma icu/hdu.

No, insantiy is only relative anyway (your familiy drives you crazy.....just kidding) New Rn's in the critical care environment can and has been done well preveously however there needs to be a massive level of both clinical and social support available. It is not crazy to get med/surg experience prior to entering the critical care environmet and indeed amongst many critcare nurses the discussion regarding newly registered nurses in the critical care environment rages on.

Short answer go with with what you feel is right and disregard the labeling.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

I have to agree with the above, it's whatever you are most comfortable with. I worked on a medical unit before going to ICU and I felt it helped consolidate some of the basic nursing skills before jumping into ICU. Having said that there are some excellent ICU nurses I have worked with who went straight from qualifiying into ICU and loved it.

We were lucky having excellent support and 3 practice educators on the unit to work with the new ICU nurses which definately makes it easier.

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