My Dilemma: Start in ER or a very laid back ICU

[nola04]

I have a dilemma, I have been offered a position in the ER but I have been told that the good ER RN's are the ones who started in ICU. My dilemma is that I have a 99% chance of starting in an ICU where I extern however it is very laid back. The clients are not true ICU and I don't think I will get a good learning experience at this facilities ICU. I have talked to the other RN's who seem to say the same mind you that they have been RN's for quite some time and suggest that I go else where or could start here and then transfer to another ICU. The ER position that I have been offered seems to be ok but I am not sure. The people seem nice but I really wanted to start in ICU at a level 1 hospital but unfortunately I did not get the position so I am stuck. ER is my second choice but I always wanted to work at the local level 1 facility in my area now that this is no longer an option I am at wits end as to what I should do. I just have this notion that the good RN's are those who have been trained at a level 1 facility than those who don't. I just really want to get a strong foundation but this choice is no longer an option. I am 99% leaning on the ER position and hoping that this ER is decent enough whereby I will learn and perhaps later on be able to re-apply to the ICU at my dream facility. Don't get me wrong I am very excited about having a position in the ER and I have been reading that some people don't have any internships or are still waiting on responses from their interviews. I am not trying to come across as being ungrateful I am just someone who did not get their first choice and I am very disappointed but I know I am in a good position because I do have another option.

For those who have been ER RN's with no ICU experience, can you tell me how did you feel starting in this position.

For those who have been ICU RN's first and then cross trained in ER, if you had to choose would you start in an ICU that was really not a true ICU just to have ICU experience on your resume before going into ER and even just staying in this ICU for 6 months and then try to transfer. The only problem with transfering is that the facility has a contract agreement.

Also has anyone went from ER to ICU. Most of my friends say that if you start in ER then you don't want to go to ICU. The advice I have been given thus far is to start in the ER and get some experience and the get an ICU job on the side and train in ICU later.

I apologize for the long post but I am just not too sure what to do.

Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

Nola

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

If you want to do ER, do ER. If you want to do ICU, do ICU. Hey, you said any advice!

FWIW, I work with some RNs who have ICU experience. Are they great nurses? Yep! One was an ICU manager, and when she came to the ER, she really hit the ground running, once she got the hang of some things like splinting (as we don't always have a tech to do it). I also work with some RNs who have done nothing but ER, ever, and they are fabulous as well.

[gun]

in our settings , i would prefer to work in ICU and then get transfer to ER. I know it is equally good but if you have work experience in ICU then you can work any of the units