PICU vs ICU

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Hello everyone!

I am currently a NICU nurse and have been so for about 7 months. This was not my first choice of unit but the other units I was eager to work in were not hiring at the time or only taking experienced RN's. Through these past months I have not been happy in the unit I am at. It's not just the nursing work it self I am not enjoying but the people that are working there (very immature and tense between co-workers) and some of the policies that are on being newly enforced seem to be taking away from our nursing judgment, skills, and independedence. I am not meaning to demean NICU, I must say it is a tough place to work at where you must be on your toes and be extra cautious about anything you do. There are definitely great nurses out there who are helping these little ones survive and have a good life to look forward to. This type of work is not for everyone and I believe in my case its best if I change environments. I think I am not going to grow as a nurse and learn to be the best I can be if I am not enjoying what I am doing. I am currently planning to pursue CRNA school maybe even medical school. This next semester I am enrolled in school so take some prerequisites that I am missing and am starting to study for the GRE. I unfortunately signed a 2 year contract at the hospital I am currently at and will have to pay back 8800 if I leave the hospital. I have been offered a full time position in ICU at another local hospital and at PCIU at the same hospital where I currently work at. If I stay at PICU I will not be breaking the contract and will be trained and oriented to the unit. The director of this unit was my mentor during orientation and we built a bond and is aware of my situation which is why I am probably having this oppurtunity offered by her now that she is losing a senior nurse. Although I am interested in PICU and believe I will enjoy working with a new set of people I think I am torn between this offer and the one at ICU. This PICU is generally slow right now max of 7 patients or so and their usual patient is either CP or seizures, and the hospital where the ICU is at has recently been changed to a level 2 trauma and is usually working 14 nurses meaning they usually have a good census. When I was oriented the director was very nice and seemed very eager to bring me on board and train me. He did not at all seem concerned about my nursing work experience I had, which was just NICU. I was peer interviewed by 5 other nursing staff and it went great! They all seem to love where they work and seem very knowledgeable about what they do. I honestly would chose ICU with out a doubt if I wasnt going to need to pay back this money and if I didnt have a good relationship with the staff in PICU. Not to mention I feel I will learn more and better prepare my self for which ever program I am accepted to. I need to respond to both offers by monday can anyone help me? Or give advice on what I should do? Thanks guys!!:)

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Newborn, Antepartum.

Wow, that's a tough one!! I too, have a tuition reimbursement thing with my hospital, but not quite in the amount you do. Do you have to pay it back all at once?? Would this require you to take out a loan, and would you be able/willing to do that?

It sounds like your heart is in ICU...As tough as it is, I would sit down and discuss this with whomever your support people are (family, friends, husband, etc.) Make a financial plan to see if it is finacially ok for you to take the ICU job. Maybe check with the other hospital and see if they would extend the same kind of thing to you.....could they pay off your other hospital obligation if you worked with them for 2 years or however long?

Good luck to you!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

I would do PICU, get the 2 years down and go from there. PICU is an ICU too, just peds version. So, you would have critical care experience already when applying for ICU positions. I don't think you'd have trouble finding employment in ICU afterwards.

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Specializes in pediatric critical care.

Take the PICU job, you really don't want to be stuck owing all that money, do you? You will gain great experience there, they may be slow right now, but in a few months look out! You can also always pick up prn in an adult ICU somewhere once you get your feet wet, that's what alot of the girls I work with have done while pursuing CRNA.

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I'd definitely do PICU, so I don't break contract. It's still ICU, just pediatrics... and you can get to ICU (if you wish) later on. Good luck!

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Wow, that's a tough one!! I too, have a tuition reimbursement thing with my hospital, but not quite in the amount you do. Do you have to pay it back all at once?? Would this require you to take out a loan, and would you be able/willing to do that?

It sounds like your heart is in ICU...As tough as it is, I would sit down and discuss this with whomever your support people are (family, friends, husband, etc.) Make a financial plan to see if it is finacially ok for you to take the ICU job. Maybe check with the other hospital and see if they would extend the same kind of thing to you.....could they pay off your other hospital obligation if you worked with them for 2 years or however long?

Good luck to you!!

Yes I would have to pay it all at once:( My mother has 5000 she is willing to help me with and my boyfriend has 2000 to help with I just have to pay the difference of 1800. Which isnt too bad but is still a lot of money. This other hospital will be giving me 5000 if I accept the ICU position for 2 years, but after my orientation period is done and they pay only 650 quarterly. I was thinking of using that money to pay my mother back and with montly payments to my boyfriend as well. They both advise me to do what will make me happy and what I think is best. Which is great but it hasnt eased my dilemma. Thank you for your response! Very appreciated!

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Very true! I am sure PICU would make my applications for another ICU position that much easier to obtain. I guess my main concern is that this PICU doesnt really have trauma or post surgery other than your minor surgeries. I am glad to have your opinion on this! You wouldnt think I am hurting my oppurtunity in working in the ICU though if I decline?

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Thanks all! This is all advice I am definitely going to take into consideration. My heart is set on ICU, but sometimes I believe you have to sacrifice. I'll have to see if this sacrifice will be worth it to me on the long run. The whole financial thing is the part that is really holding me back, although my support system is willing to help I dont know if I am willing to impose such a burden on them.

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It really sounds like you've got your heart set on the ICU position. If you're able to pay the hospital back without putting yourself in any kind of financial hardship, I would definetly do what will make you happy. 17 months is a long time to be wishing that you were doing something else.

I was not a fan of the PICU and absolutely dreaded going to work for way too long. If you're going to be spending 36+ hours a week somewhere, do what makes you happy. :)

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PICU no question. Think how many weeks salary 8800 would be. That's how many weeks you'd be working solely for the privilege of working at the other hospital. You need a minimum of 2 years ICU for CRNA but think how much stronger a candidate you'd be with that plus 2 years working with critical children and infants.

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If I had 8800 bucks, I sure wouldn't want to give it back to some place where I'd been miserable :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If I had 8800 bucks, I sure wouldn't want to give it back to some place where I'd been miserable :)

I agree!

Is it possible for you to transfer to ICU at current hospital?

That way you won't breaking the contract, and still get the ICU experience.

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