Neuro ICU vs ICU job offer

[essenm25]

I am a new grad and have been looking for a job in critical care. I was offered both a job in a Neuro ICU in a great level 1 trauma center and an ICU job in a nice, but smaller hospital.

For the variety I have been leaning towards the ICU job but I am afraid that all the most critical patients will be sent to bigger hospitals anyway. Does anyone have any experience in this? Or the variety of patient population in a Neuro ICU.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

[ArmaniX, MSN, APRN]

Go to the level 1

[Surprised1, MSN, RN]

Neuro is the most interesting specialty, in my biased opinion :) I also second the Level 1.

As far as what patient population you'll encounter in Neuro ICU, I can't answer for adult, but in Peds we have traumas, tumor resections, grids, etc.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

[walkingdeadhead]

I would go for the level 1. Idk about your level 1, but in mine if an ICU bed is needed for any kind of patient, it's going to whichever ICU has an open bed (so neuro ICU may take a Gsw to the abdomen, heart pt etc). Also, neuro ICU patients still offer a variety of experiences (vents, CRRT, drips, wounds, etc.). ICU experience in a level 1 will open so many doors for you in your nursing career, you will be hired just about anywhere else you want to bases on that in your job history.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I would go with the neuro ICU if you're really interested in critical care. That being said pay/benefits/hours/distance from home/and training provided should all also be considered.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

This thread has been moved to the Critical Care forum. Good luck to you!

I am a new grad and have been looking for a job in critical care. I was offered both a job in a Neuro ICU in a great level 1 trauma center and an ICU job in a nice, but smaller hospital.

For the variety I have been leaning towards the ICU job but I am afraid that all the most critical patients will be sent to bigger hospitals anyway. Does anyone have any experience in this? Or the variety of patient population in a Neuro ICU.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

I recommend the ICU position

I work in a large community hospital with a Neuro ICU, CCU and ICU (where I work). The ICU can take any patient that needs a bed including neuro and cardiac patients if those units dont have beds or staff. We often handle patients on multiple drips, CRRT, complicated wounds and dressings, and a lot more stuff. The ICU nurses float to every critical care unit because we can accept every critical care patient, the same cannot be said about the Neuro ICU and CCU nurses. Not that they aren't good nurses it's just they have been tied to a specialty and sometimes it can be overwhelming.

When I was hired I was given the opportunity to go to Neuro or ICU and I chose ICU because I worked with the staff as a tech for a long time and really enjoyed the team work, also I loved the variety of the patient population. You could have a 25 year old drug overdose and then have a 87 year old post TPA. When i get floated to neuro I know that i'll have a subarachnoid bleed or a tumor resection, or a subdural bleed, etc.

I know it's a tough decision but only you will truly know what's a good fit for you, but like someone mentioned look at travel time, benefits, unit layout, etc. Best of luck!

[Dranger]

I personally prefer the broad MICU for variety but if you like neuro go for it.