New grad employment offer...please help

[Valnave]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting a thread, but I am not new to the site and am looking forward to some much needed help and advice.

I graduate from nursing school August 14th, and just got offered two positions at a local hospital. One is for Telemetry and the other for ICU. My passion is with critical care and am so excited for the opportunity and the offer. The ICU that I got the offer in is much slower with a lower acuity of patients; the very critical patients go to the main campus ICU.

I have heard the pro's and cons from various nurses and clinical professors on the offers and what I should do. What do you think would be the best course of action for a new graduate going into the ICU?

Thanks again:)

[elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

If your passion is critical care then go with the ICU offer.

Youre a new grad, and the ICU is no place to learn how to deal with high acuity right off the cuff. It works out for some people, but its a big risk to your patients and your license if you dont have a solid foundation to work off of.

So if anything, working at a somewhat lower acuity level at an ICU for a new grad doesnt seem like that bad of a gig at all. You get to really build the skills you need for CC in an environment where the pressure isnt all that bad. Then when youve spent enough timeto feel comfortable/confident maybe you can put in a request to that "main campus" and get your hands dirty with the real trainwrecks.

My 2 cents. Good luck with your decision

[Dorito, ASN, RN]

Make sure the Orientation is long enough and you will have a preceptor. If critical care/ acute care is your passion it sounds like it would be right up your alley! Best of luck to you and your nursing career!!