MICU vs Med-Surgical for New Grad RN

[kmichellex]

I would like to ask anyone for advice on this topic.

As a new graduate RN, would working on one of these units be more beneficial for the average person?

[MarshaRabbit]

I think it depends on where you want to be. If critical care nursing is your goal, then absolutely attempt to gain employment as a critical care nurse! Getting related certifications (such as ACLS) will help your chances as well. It can be more challenging to find employment in critical care as a new nurse, but many of the larger hospitals offer nurse residencies which may be helpful in getting your foot in the door. It is not necessarily true that you need to "do your time" in med-surg, as I know many nurses who went directly into critical care.

[kmichellex]

Thank you so much!

I want to do ICU in the future but I am scared that I am not be fast enough yet for that time of environment which is why I was thinking of starting in a medical surgical unit or a step-down unit that is broad so I can learn what I need to learn in my nursing career. I was able to get an internship this summer on a CV ICU unit actually, so maybe I will know then if I can handle an ICU.

Interesting point about the whole med-surg experience before ICU." I was just asking this question because I figured I would learn a lot of basic skills on both types of units. It's just hard when so many nurses argue that I would need that before ICU. But I think it's based off of what you can and can not handle.

Thank you! ACLS is something I am considering on getting so my resume looks good. Getting a job in NYC for nursing is harder than I thought and I haven't even applied yet. I've just heard from other new grads that it's been a struggle. So anything that will make my resume look good helps, thank you.