NICU RN working in ICU - am I insane?

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

:icon_rollHi all,

I am currently an BSN, RNC with 3 years of NICU, PICU, Peds and 6 mos ED experience. I am competent in vents, pressors, hyperal, postop open heart neonatal cardiacs, IVs, central lines, arrythmias, hemodynamics, etc. I've cared for traumas, head injuries, DKAs, traumatic amputations, etc.

I am considering taking a per diem position at a combined MICU/SICU/CCU (27 beds) in a smaller community hospital very close to my house. I already work full-time about 1hr from home, and attend grad school part time. I need a per diem job that's really close and flexible. Unfortunately there are no NICUs, PICUs or EDs hiring per diems in the area. I have worked for 2 summers in that unit as a RN extern, so I am familiar with how the unit works, etc. I am not sure what kind of limited orientation I will get, but the hospital was excellent to work for while I was in school. I understand that I will need to relearn most of my adult non-trauma, non-congenital diagnoses. They have a really good RN support system there in a new, clean and busy unit. They see routine neurosurgery stuff, strokes, stents, cardiac caths, pneumonias, sepsises, etc. Occasional CVVHDF, frequent hemodialysis.

Am I crazy for thinking I can do this?

[meandragonbrett]

You absolutely are NOT crazy for thinking you can do it! I say go for it. If it's too much to handle with school and your NICU job, you can always bow out of the job. You never know until you try. Let us know your decision and how it goes.