Neuroscience ICU or Oncology

[medicalninja]

Hi! I'm interested in both Neuroscience ICU and Oncology. It is my ultimate goal to get my DNP, however I am starting clinicals for my BSN and thinking about possible internships for next summer. I am really into challenging myself, helping others, and thinking critically to help with complex and sophisticated problems. I have a type A personality and huge heart. Which of the two specialties do you think would be most interesting, challenging, and prestigious (not really that important, but I am an overachiever and like to be at the top of everything that I do).

Thanks so much!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Are you currently a nursing student?

[medicalninja]

Yes. I am in my junior year of a BSN program.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

OK - I'll admit I am biased. I LOVE Neuro-trauma ICU. That's where I began as a new grad. It has a steep learning curve & is very fast paced. Neuro is typically not a student's favorite area of A&P and it gets much less class time than cardiac (maybe instructor preferences / comfort level?) so you will probably have a lot more basic learning in store.

The cool thing about Neuro is that a lot of things are 'opposite' - such as maintaining high CVP to increase cerebral circulation... very different from CVICU parameters. So it's not an easy switch from Neuro to other ICU settings. The patient population is generally younger (reflects the male 18-40 demographic that's drawn to "hey y'all, watch this" behavior).

Neuro is pretty cut and dried - because damaged CNS does not regenerate, ever. So there isn't as much optimism underlying the treatment goals. The reality of young lives cut short or irreparably damaged is an everyday reality. I dunno, it may be really difficult setting for OP's huge heart.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Both are very depressing specialties, IMO. Both are also very specialized - as the PP mentioned, parameters in neuro are the opposite of other specialties, and there are a lot of drugs (think chemo) unique to oncology that you'll give there and nowhere else. I'm very biased in favor of ICU in general. I think that is where you should be for the complex and sophisticated problem-solving you mentioned. Patients on the oncology floor can be medically complex, too, but you have less time to critically think about their problems if your preceptor for next summer has five oncology patients, vs. a neuro ICU preceptor who has two, tops, and will therefore have more time to explain things to you.

[medicalninja]

Looks like I'll try to do a critical care internship and work my way to neuro! Thank you!