Need Advise

You may want to stay on as prn where you currently are at, if you decide to take your dream job. That way, if you decide that it is not the dream you thought it was, then you will still have a job available.

5 or 6 pts to one nurse in critical care?

That is totally dangerous and undoable. 5 or 6 to one nurse in med-surg- not great, but doable. In ICU, it's rediculous.

I would never take such a job.

Which nursing position brings you the most joy ? Usually if we follow our joy it is the right decision. When you think of each position, which one do you feel most alive, most centered? Our choices are not just about money or shifts & amount of time. What is your calling in life? You sounds in such a great place. You worked hard to be where you are at, school, passing the boards. You deserve the best. Keep us posted on what you decide.

5 or 6 pts to one nurse in critical care?

That is totally dangerous and undoable. 5 or 6 to one nurse in med-surg- not great, but doable. In ICU, it's rediculous.

I would never take such a job.

You took the words right outta my mouth!!! 5-6 patients in critical care is insane. Sounds like they are really short staffed, and that may give you a less than ideal six month orientation. If it will even truly be six months. Don't let your rose colored glasses of finding your "dream job" get yourself into a nightmare first job right out of school. I think you should interview at other places/units/facilities to get a feel of what would be a good and safe place to work. Good luck!

Do not do the ICU job. That is a horrible incident waiting to happen. I wish you well.

I thought the same thing about the patient/nurse ratio. I just graduated in May and am in a cardiac surgical ICU. We normally have 2 patients but we are 1:1 for balloon pumps or fresh open hearts. We may have to triple patients but they are usually those that have orders for telemetry but no bed yet. It's very rare to have a triple assignment and I can't imagine having more than 3 patients. Don't let people tell you not to go into critical care- anywhere you go as a new grad is going to be a difficult transition- but find a unit that really supports new grads and won't put you in a dangerous situation. You worked too hard for your license to risk losing it in an unsafe situation. Good luck.

Please say it's a cardiac unit and not a critical care unit. Perhaps a step down progressive care, or telemetry???? Or a typo?

Anyway, it's not a requirement to do med-surg before going off into a speciality. Many a nurse has begun their career in med-surg and reeped the benefits of being grounded in a well-rounded foundation. But you will do just fine, especially if they give you two weeks of classroom and six months of preceptorship.

My error. The step down unit is ratio 5 or 6 to 1. This was another job that is

I am looking at. The CCU is ration 2 or 3 to 1. Sorry. The numbers were switced.

I say go for it. You could try shadowing a nurse for a day or two if that is possible. Do you have to sign a contract for a specific amouint of time after the 6 months?

Noney

If your ratios are really 2:1 or 1:1 then I say go for it.

I have never worked med-surg. I went straight out of nursing school and into a critical care internship...which is funny, considering I hated critical care in school. I loved only having 1 or 2 patients. Being trained on some of the more advanced equipment like the balloon pumps meant I was more likely to be 1:1. I felt a lot more secure being in total charge of a small number of patients than I would have having several...that was the thing I noticed about med-surg in nursing school...I had no idea how I was going to manage caring for 5 to 8 patients every day.

Take this job and run with it. In nursing , very few decisions are irrevocable. If you find you hate thisnew place, then give it a good try adn then face facts and move on.

Best wishes.