Offered PICU position...

[C-lion]

I am very excited. I went to shadow in a local PICU last month and after a bit of waiting was offered a job there with a 5 month orientation. I had been offered a night shift ED position, and though I think that would be a great job, I am leaning toward the PICU.

Any thoughts on this?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I'm VERY biased... Take the PICU job!!

5 months of orientation is a really sweet deal. Our new hires don't get anywhere close to that. You'll learn SO much and develop a lot of skills. Plus you'll get to work with kids.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

PICU is (in this girl's opinion) the singularly most interesting place I've worked in. Clinically.

It's fast paced, HUGELY diverse in terms of diagnoses, and the kids are cute, too.

[Kidrn911]

Done both, except the ER was in the peds ER. I love the ER, I miss the ER. I would even go back and work adult ER. I currently work in the PICU. I say ER. But it is your personality.

[C-lion]

I want to do both! It is a great problem to have, but still a tough decision. I think I am going to the PICU, and then later on down the road will try for ER.

[O'Rion]

Hi! I have worked PICU for 24 years. You will always learn something. Every day. And it's so exciting and rewarding. You will never be sad you decided to be a PICU Nurse. I must say that there are in some units a "proving yourself" period. Some of the nurses may be hard to deal with. They were downright nasty to me. But eventually they figured me out and were finally nice. Just smile and do a great job. Eventually they will see how great you are. Also my preceptor many years ago told me to put Mary Fran Hazinski's PICU book by my bed and read a chapter each night. It improved my knowledge base and confidence as I read about and began to understand the complex cases I was exposed to. I recommend you do the same. And Welcome to the PICU! I have worked in many areas other than PICU as a PRN person and also a Traveler (currently traveling in PICU) and have a great sense of pride and accomplishment in being a PICU Nurse. I know you will, too! Hope you choose PICU. :)

[O'Rion]

PS--have just completed several floats to Peds ER. I like PICU because I love seeing the progress with the child. In ER you go a great job but they are gone and lots of times you have no idea what happened down the road.

[C-lion]

O'Rion, I just bought that Hazinski book! I have accepted the informal offer for the PICU, and did my physical Wednesday, so hopefully I will get the official offer soon.