Picking a path

[IndymamaNrn]

Hi,

Im hoping that you all will have some valuable insight here. I currently work with post-op patients in an ortho/neuro unit. I have only been there for 6 months. I love the hospital that I work for. Unfortunately, it is a smaller hospital with a tiny peds unit. All critical cases are sent to one of the areas bigger hospital nearby. I want to get experience with neonates and eventually work in the NICU. The hospital that I work for does not offer that opportunity, but it is part of a network that I could potentially transfer within. However, it is not easy getting into these units without experience. One of the other networks is large and offers many opportunities for new nurses. However, this one has a large turn around of nurses and a very bad reputation of how it treats it's employees. So, here is my question... Do I stay within my current hospital network and hope that I can eventually get into the NICU or even get some experience with newborns? Or, apply to work in a hospital that I would have a better chance of working in my dream area, but know that I may not be treated as well as the other hospital? Has anyone ever had a similar situation? What sacrifices have you made to get to where you want to be?

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I'd ask to shadow in the other hospital and see how the dynamics are there. If it has that bad of a reputation, I would personally steer clear. Or see if you can transfer to peds or nursery within your hospital to get some experience under your belt to try to get the transfer to NICU.

[MsJacquese99, ADN]

I am not a nurse, I'm actually trying to get into nursing school. All of these answers are going to be very subjective, but I will give my opinion anyway. If I were you I would go to the other job and work there for a year or so. Getting experience in the NICU is something that is very hard to come by (or so what I've heard), so if the opportunity arrises, I would take it. I know the turn over rate is high at the other job, but experience is experience. Once you have that you can go to any other hospital that has a NICU. This all depends on the fact that you might HATE your bosses for a year. This is a hard decision. I wish you all the best of luck.