New Grad - General Surgery vs Cardiovascular Surgery

[questioningnurse]

Hi everyone! Long time reader, first time poster!

I'm a new graduate and am so thankful to have a few job offers to decide between. One is gen surg (they get everything - GI, thoracic, ortho, gyn, head/neck, etc), the other is a cardiovascular surg step down

I loved gen surg in nursing school (fast turnover, variety of conditions and treatments, so much to learn). I didn't have any cardiac rotations but enjoyed learning about it and am currently taking a cardiac certification course (which I am loving).

The gen-surg floor is a team model (everyone divides tasks rather than pts), the cv surg is a regular pt assignment (4-5:1). Both NMs seemed really nice and supportive, both orientations seemed vague but flexible.

I'm looking to learn as much as possible. I'm hesitant to start on a specialty floor so early on without having prior experience with it, but the idea of the acuity of cardiology thrills me. Any advice on your experience (both positive or negative) as a new grad on similar floors would be so helpful. Thanks!!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

As a new grad, you have so much to learn that it probably doesn't matter that much where you start. What will matter is friendly, supportive colleagues, an orientation that is planned out as much as possible and an experienced preceptor, and the general "feel" of the unit. (Not talking about decor here. Does it feel pleasant when you walk onto the unit, or is it noisy, chaotic and stressful?)