I graduate in May and already have 2 offers, which was extremely unexpected. I know a lot of people would love to have my problem, which is which job do I choose? I would appreciate your input! :) Both are full time midnights which is fine by me as I'm a night owl anyway.
A: ER, Level 1 trauma center. 14 week orientation, 2 of those in the pediatric ER, and orientation can be extended if need be. Non profit, city, union hospital. Less than 10 miles from home. Benefits are better and less expensive than Job B. I know people who work in the ER and are very happy there, and have done many clinicals in this hospital. Pay is a few dollars better per hour than Job B. ER is in my "top 3" list but it's not number 1. New ER in process of being built and will be opened in January 2012.
B: NICU. Level 3. Wonderful track record (over a year without a single central line infection!). 16 week orientation, first year only noncritical patients. RN/patient ratio may be 4:1. Nonunion hospital. Know an NNP there who loves it and has mostly good things to say about it. Very old building but up to date as far as EBP and technology used. I originally got into nursing because I wanted to go into NICU nursing. 45 miles from home.
Both seem to have happy employees. I believe in the philosophies and mission statements of both. I've met all the RN managers and educators for both and believe I could get along with all of them. Both have supportive and comprehensive orientations. Both have caring managers who have been there for several years. I have the chance at my dream but the pay is less, the benefits are less and more expensive, the drive is longer. I also worry if I don't end up liking NICU as much as I anticipate I will, that I'll be limited because that will be my only experience. I want to teach nursing in the future and I know NICU limits those options.
Still, I had a 24 weeker who didn't make it out of the NICU and a 28 weeker who is now 6 years old and doing well, and NICU is where my heart has been all along. To have the chance to walk right into that is amazing. I've found I really love critical care and have loved my clinical time in both the ER and the NICU. I know with ER that it would open up a lot of doors because I'd get to see and do so much, especially given the hospital I'd be at. The ER job's hospital also has a level 3 NICU so I could potentially transfer later.
Job A for sure.....especially since you have the opportunity to do an in house transfer. It will be a lot easier to get into the NICU when you're already in the system and you can make the connections. At the same time you will have the broad ER experience in case you want to change specialties after you get into NICU.
General E. Speaking, RN, RN
1 Article; 1,337 Posts
Job A. Get ER experience then transfer to NICU later.