PCU to ER?

[kristintoria]

I am a new grad that had been offered a grad residency program in PCU at an HCA hospital, the training is 13 weeks with a 2 year contract in PCU. My ultimate goal is to work in the ED, however, no one is really hiring new grads for ER. This same program is also offered for ICU and they gave me a choice for either. I was just so excited for the opportunity I told the recruiter I would take either, she said PCU would be a good start. SO my question is with my experience I gain from PCU do you think I could transition to ER after my two year contract? Is this good critical care experience? Should I email her back and ask to interview for the ICU position instead? Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[k-flo]

I would take the ICU job, critical care experience is a huge plus to getting hired in the ER. Good luck!

The letters from various hospitals can mean different things but around here, PCU is not critical care... it's where we (the ED) send our stable cardiac patients.

For getting into the ED, you're better off with critical-care experience so if the ICU is still a possibility, go for it. That said, we've got a few excellent nurses who've come off the floors.

[kristintoria]

PCU is for Progressive Care Unit. Which is considered critical care via the AACN. but yeah it's just a bridge between ICU and Med-Surg. I tried emailing back for the ICU position but haven't heard back. Either way, I'm hoping it's good experience that will eventually lead my career path to ER! :)