Neuro ICU vs Med Surg

[kbbw2007]

I have been offered a job in a Med/Surg ICU (that includes open heart surgery) and also a job in a neuro ICU. My long term goal is travel nursing. I currently have 10 years as a nurse but only 6 months back in a med/surg (No OHS) ICU. I worked ICU, then case management, QI and now back in the ICU (just a little history). Cardiac is not my strong point but neuro is. So, do I take the job with neuro (my strong point) or in the Med/Surg/OHS ICU? Are there adequate travel opportunities if I take the Neuro ICU job? As a travel nurse will the pay rate be about the same? Thanks in advance for your input. Kathy

[Spiderella]

Since you are already strong with Neuro, I would suggest broadening your experience into the med surg ICU to give you a well rounded background. There are Neuro travel ICU jobs but MICU or CCU jobs are by far the most common. Good luck.

[wanderlust99]

Agree with above poster. Go with the med surg icu. There are definitely neuro icu jobs out there and your neuro experience will be very useful for you, but it's easier to get a job in a more general icu. I almost wish I had gotten some cardiac experience first before I started traveling. The more variety of experience you have, the better when traveling. Good luck!