New grad nurse needs some advice! Which one is good?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a new grad
My current offer is at telemetry, ratio 1-4, competitive pay rate, 35-45 minute commute, high acuity patient, skid row area. Their new grad program lasts 24 weeks.
Another option would be the emergency room at a community hospital, with a lower pay rate and a commute of 10-15 minutes. However, the training is only six weeks long.
In my clinical rotations, I rotated through different units, but I was only interested in emergency unit. The only thing that made me hesitant was the 6-week training period.
What are your thoughts on this?

I'd appreciate it. 

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

as a former  new grad who had no training period. I'd pick the one with the longest training period. 

The client group while challenging can also be immensely rewarding. I had a patient today who comes into that very 'challenging' client group.

Patient had been really unwell and I wanted to do something nice for them. I popped down to the cafe and got them a coke zero (their all time favourite drink). The look on their face when I gave it to them, dang you would have thought I'd given them a check for $1,000,000

That's really nice ! 
you'd do great! And be a great nurse.

I agreed that 6 weeks is so short

maybe I will have more chance after I gain experience from telemetry floor??

6 weeks is in no way adequate to orient a new grad to the ED. This is a set up for absolute failure. EDs will always be there. Get some good solid training under your belt first. 

It's risky tbh 😞

p9tinh said:

It's risky tbh 😞

Not worth the risk.

I understand. ER can wait then...

There's never such a thing as "too much training."  Always go w/ the job that incorporates more training time/hours, if offered.

My only interest was ED too. Over a decade ago, my cohorts were offered 8 weeks on 7 days/2 weeks work periods. I was the only one that asked for 2 more weeks. Many were always helpful even after my 10 weeks. 

Specializes in SRNA.

6 weeks for a new grad is big yikes. My community hospital provides 20 weeks for new grads...up from 16 weeks when I started 6 years ago.

In this scenario I would take the longer preceptorship on tele even if it wasn't my first choice.

Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

It's been a long while since my new grad telemetry orientation, but mine was 3 months before you were given the go to be on your own. Our new grad program/orientation/residency (whatever you want to call it) actually combined tele, m/s, and ER new grads together. 6 weeks is definitely not enough, no matter how much prior experience you have.

Wow, I am amazed at how long of orientation people get. Our new grad program is a year - but that is classes. Actual working with a preceptor is 8 weeks for most units. I personally felt 6 would have been adequate when I started - but that was going into float pool. Not sure for the ED. 

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