New Grad...Float Pool or Acute Care Unit?

it sounds like your heart is in peds. If offered the peds job, take it!!

I keep posting threads like this, too. I'm going through a dilemma similar to this, except that they're the same type of unit. Gah!!

Good luck whatever you decide! :)

I guess that's what I'm struggling with a little. In Job 1, I still get to do peds but I also get to learn so many other things about other areas I do have an interest in! And yet, I'd probably love job 2 and the non-commute is definitely a plus. But...it doesn't feel cut and dry!

Oh and thank you! Good luck to you too!

I'd go for the float position if they're going to give you 8 weeks in each department for orientation.

If you can handle the commute I would go with job 1. Because of how much precepted time you will get in each unit.

It would give you a chance to explore all areas and later on if you wanted to stay in a different area like mother baby or NICU ( 2 areas that are hard to get into even with experience) you will have had the orientation and experience in those areas.

Both options sound great. The commute could get old after a few months, but it sounds like a great opportunity.

Is the 45-60 minute commute one way? If so, please take job #2 for the sake of your patients and other drivers.

You'll never get off work at 7:30, so plan on being there until at least 8. Take the hour drive home, shower, eat, chit-chat with your significant other, wind down, and go to bed....at around 11. If you're a good sleeper, you'll get 5 hours of sleep, before you wake up at 4 in order to eat breakfast, pack your lunch, say hi to your significant other, get gas, leave at 5:30 in order to arrive at work at 6:30, because if you show up at 7 sharp, you'll miss the pre-shift huddle and pt assignments. That third shift gets pretty long when you're working off 15 hours of sleep in the last 3 days.

Heaven forbid your neighbor's dog likes to bark all day, or your upstairs neighbor is a drummer for a metal band.

If you don't transition well for sleeping during the day, things will be worse. Wikipedia says Portland gets measurable rainfall 155 days of the year, so add on an extra 15-20 mins for 42% of your commutes. I hope you're not driving a Hummer, because your gas bills would be intense.

I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but do you see how things could add up?

As far as the actual jobs are concerned, there are two schools of thought on float pool nurses. #1 is that they are awesome because they have such a broad base of experience. #2 is that they are jack of all trades, but master of none. Generally you can become the former by pushing yourself to be exceptional, but that will take much more time and effort than becoming exceptional in one area.

Take job number 2. No commute and it is Peds. Being float pool as a new grad can be difficult. Why not focus on peds for right now.

Is the 45-60 minute commute one way? If so, please take job #2 for the sake of your patients and other drivers.

You'll never get off work at 7:30, so plan on being there until at least 8. Take the hour drive home, shower, eat, chit-chat with your significant other, wind down, and go to bed....at around 11. If you're a good sleeper, you'll get 5 hours of sleep, before you wake up at 4 in order to eat breakfast, pack your lunch, say hi to your significant other, get gas, leave at 5:30 in order to arrive at work at 6:30, because if you show up at 7 sharp, you'll miss the pre-shift huddle and pt assignments. That third shift gets pretty long when you're working off 15 hours of sleep in the last 3 days.

Heaven forbid your neighbor's dog likes to bark all day, or your upstairs neighbor is a drummer for a metal band.

If you don't transition well for sleeping during the day, things will be worse. Wikipedia says Portland gets measurable rainfall 155 days of the year, so add on an extra 15-20 mins for 42% of your commutes. I hope you're not driving a Hummer, because your gas bills would be intense.

I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but do you see how things could add up?

As far as the actual jobs are concerned, there are two schools of thought on float pool nurses. #1 is that they are awesome because they have such a broad base of experience. #2 is that they are jack of all trades, but master of none. Generally you can become the former by pushing yourself to be exceptional, but that will take much more time and effort than becoming exceptional in one area.

This is the big thing about the float pool. These first years are when you should be honing your skills and really mastering some stuff.

I would definitely take job #2. While the first job sounds like an amazing opportunity, I don't think the commute would be worth it. Before you actually have to work and do it, commuting always sounds doable, but in my experience, in reality, it just wears on you. I don't think I could put up with that for two years. In my opinion, you would be better served at learning the ropes of one unit than trying to get acquainted to four new ones at a time, too.

Thanks for all the responses! Many of you are echoing my thoughts, though I'm still torn especially since I have family to stay with in town on days I didn't want to commute...