New grad, start in med/surg or critical care internship??

[angc513]

Hello Everyone.

I graduated in June and passed boards in October. (yay) I would eventually like to get into critical care or emergency nursing. Should I start of in med/surg or go ahead and jump into the critical care internship program? I hear so many different things that I am kind of confused on what to do. A lot of critical care internships only take new grads, so let's say I work med surg for a year then want to do critical care, how does that wor?? Will they just transfer me to the unit and train me there?

If you think I should do med/surg what kind? There are so many sub specialties of even med surg now days that I am not sure where to start. Cardiac, oncology, surgical, transplants, the list goes on. It is hard to find a general med/surg. So what do you all recommend???? Also is it true that if I am interested in Emergency nursing that I should do more of a medical floor?? So many rumors and opinions, please help!

Angela :)

[may2kd]

Jump in head first! If you want to end up in ED or ICU, why spend a year not doing that only to end up there later. If you don't think you're

[may2kd]

sorry, didn't quite mean to post that yet!

If you don't think you're ready for the ICU just yet, spend a year in step-down instead. That will at least give you the critical care aspect while you're learning how to be a nurse. That's what I did. But you need to do what's best for you.

Congrats on passing your boards!

[JJRBuckeyeRN]

I started right in an ICU internship and I feel that I had a great orientation. I work in a MICU that has awesome teamwork among the staff. The more senior nurses look out for those of us who are new when we first come out of orientation. I have never once gone into work nervous or scared. I always know that if things start to get over my head and I feel like I am drowning there will be two other nurses there to help me.

Starting right in the ICU you have to be a self motivated learner and be willing to know where your weaknesses are and work on them.

In 1.5 years I have gotten to the point where I always hope that I have the sickest pt on the unit...and I feel like I am competent and confident enough at this point to take care of the very sick ones.

[LaurynRN]

I was a Med/Surg nurse for three years before going to ICU. If I had to do it all over again I would have started in Stepdown first, then went to ICU. Personally, on Med/Surg is where I developed my gut instincts. I always used to say "Med/Surg nurses don't need monitors to know when somethings wrong", lol. Everyone is different though and only you know what would fit best! Good Luck!!!