New Grad: Go to Spinal Cord Rehab or ICU?

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Hi All:

I'm a new grad contemplating where I should start my career. I have been offered two positions. One at a major Rehab hospital (top 3 in country) on the Spinal Cord Unit and the other at in an ICU at a smaller community hospital with a so-so reputation.

I like the appeal of the ICU -- once you do ICU you can do anything. I like the idea of working 3 (12s). But I would be on night shift. I don't know much about the staff but they do have a new ICU director which could be good or bad.

I was able to shadow on the SC unit and all the staff seemed pretty happy. It kinda seemed like "med-surg" light. The major tasks seemed to be dressing changes, meds, patient education. There are some possibilities for trachea and vent care. RNs here work 8 hours and I would be on the PM shift (3p-11p).

A caveat is that I'm still in school. I am in a direct-entry program. So I finished the preNclex portion and will now start course work for my Master's. I guess my major concern would be how well I could work nights and go to school.

Also, before it is all said and done, I would like to experience many different areas of nursing. But I am looking for a good place to start.

I would just like to hear opinions from experienced nurses as well as from the newbies. Which job would you take?

thanks in advance.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
Hi All:

I'm a new grad contemplating where I should start my career. I have been offered two positions. One at a major Rehab hospital (top 3 in country) on the Spinal Cord Unit and the other at in an ICU at a smaller community hospital with a so-so reputation.

I like the appeal of the ICU -- once you do ICU you can do anything. I like the idea of working 3 (12s). But I would be on night shift. I don't know much about the staff but they do have a new ICU director which could be good or bad.

I was able to shadow on the SC unit and all the staff seemed pretty happy. It kinda seemed like "med-surg" light. The major tasks seemed to be dressing changes, meds, patient education. There are some possibilities for trachea and vent care. RNs here work 8 hours and I would be on the PM shift (3p-11p).

A caveat is that I'm still in school. I am in a direct-entry program. So I finished the preNclex portion and will now start course work for my Master's. I guess my major concern would be how well I could work nights and go to school.

Also, before it is all said and done, I would like to experience many different areas of nursing. But I am looking for a good place to start.

I would just like to hear opinions from experienced nurses as well as from the newbies. Which job would you take?

thanks in advance.

I'm a new grad too, and I wish I had ANY job offers, but things are tight in my area. You seem concerned about working nights & finishing your masters. What will your school schedule be like? It seems like from your concern that you'd have to go to classes right after work, which might be tough. 3 12s does have a lot of flexibility though, as opposed to 5 8s. I might go with the 3 12s position, since you seem to need flexibility for school, but you have to weigh pros and cons.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Spinal Cord rehab is a great place to start-It involves you intothe whole nursing process. I too was a pool nurse that worked @ a top 3 rehab hospital (this one's in Philadelphia, PA), until I has to leave because I was in a car accident and injured my neck (I am okay, and still able bodied as a nurse). I hope to return as a float a few years from now.

If you want to return to school, no matter what you choose, make sure that your career and school work complement each other, so that you have the ability to make a living as well as achieve completion of your coursework and degree. Good luck!!!!

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Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

I worked in a acute rehab hospital for my first job. Was working there as I obtained my Masters and had to go from full time to part time to PRN. (I was studying to be an NP which of course requires clinical hours doing primary care).

I have often called rehab med/surg light. In our hospital I dealt with patients with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, etc. and I don't regret starting off there. Folks there were newly handicapped. So we dealt with emotional issues (psych), orthopedic issues, med/surg issues, we saw it all in rehab. One thing about rehab is that you really get to know your patients as they try to go back into life again. Some come back and thank you later and to show you how well they are doing ... at least that was my experience.

I've actually had people stop me in stores in my area on two different occasions who remember me as one of their rehabilitation nurses. They want to say thank you and tell me how they are doing. (Another nurse says she remembers being in a restaurant and the waiter came up and said her bill had been paid for... turns out a gentleman at another table had once been her patient).

I always worked days and evenings and actually enjoyed the evening shift in rehab because the therapy time was over and I was able to meet the patients family members (though this could also be a downside to working evenings....)

I've only worked one night shift. My husband worked nights and it takes some adjusting.

I graduated with a degree as an Adult NP recently and just interviewed for a position at a rehabilitation hospital as a NP... hoping I get it. Rehab is a rewarding field.

And you are right... ICU will prepare you well for other fields of nursing... at least that's what I've heard.. Of course the choice is up to you :specs:

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Hi All:

I'm a new grad contemplating where I should start my career. I have been offered two positions. One at a major Rehab hospital (top 3 in country) on the Spinal Cord Unit and the other at in an ICU at a smaller community hospital with a so-so reputation.

I like the appeal of the ICU -- once you do ICU you can do anything. I like the idea of working 3 (12s). But I would be on night shift. I don't know much about the staff but they do have a new ICU director which could be good or bad.

I was able to shadow on the SC unit and all the staff seemed pretty happy. It kinda seemed like "med-surg" light. The major tasks seemed to be dressing changes, meds, patient education. There are some possibilities for trachea and vent care. RNs here work 8 hours and I would be on the PM shift (3p-11p).

A caveat is that I'm still in school. I am in a direct-entry program. So I finished the preNclex portion and will now start course work for my Master's. I guess my major concern would be how well I could work nights and go to school.

Also, before it is all said and done, I would like to experience many different areas of nursing. But I am looking for a good place to start.

I would just like to hear opinions from experienced nurses as well as from the newbies. Which job would you take?

thanks in advance.

Take the smaller ICU job. With 12's you will have more schedule flexibility and the opportunity to really grow professionally. Lets face it working 8s will take more of your time away from school. (2 more commutes, 2 more getting ready for work routines etc.)

I worked nights all the way through my accelerated program. While not ideal I was able to function in my classes and clinicals.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I loved the SCI. The majority of my patients were young guys and there was a lot of vent, trach, wound care that I learned. After LPN school I was kind of burnt on geriatrics so this unit was really a nice change for me. I guess it kind of depends where you see yourself in the future. Good luck.

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Specializes in SICU.

Depends on your personality. Pt's that go to rehab have the possibility of getting better if not always back to their pre-injury state.

Pt's in the ICU very often don't get better and can spend some considerable time circling the drain before dieing. Some do get better as well.

I truly believe that before anyone goes to an ICU they should self examine their ethical beliefs. Some questions to ask yourself are: could you withhold tube feeds for a pt, could you perform cpr on a pt that has little to no chance of surviving, are you comfortable with dnr's when cpr could save the pt.

There are multiple ethical problems in the ICU and you need to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and sleep at night.

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