Please Help me decide what job to take!!!!!!

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I am about to be a GN and have just been offered nurse residency positions in the NNICU and Labor and Delivery. The problem is, I absolutely love both of these areas, and the hospital that is offering them is known for having some of the best residency programs in the country. I currently work as a nurse extern in labor and delivery at a large county hospital, and that has allowed me to gain amazing experience and learn a lot about that area. Since I have more experience in that area, I am naturally more comfortable there, and thus it wouldn't be as hard for me to get into the hang of things and get comfortable if I accepted the residency in L&D. However, I am currently in my role transition clinical and I am in the NNICU for that, and the more I learn the more I love it as well. The hospital that is offereing the residency programs is extremely large and known for allowing people to get great exposure to a variety of things and keep you busy. I would ultimately like to cross-train in both areas. My careers goals/plans are to get a dual advanced practice degree as a certified nurse midwife/neonatal nurse practitioner. A few of the women that I work with have done this, and the knowledge and scope of practice that they have is amazing. I would like to be able to take care of mom and baby from conception to a couple of months post birth. When I toured the units, both places had such a comforting feeling, and were places that I could see myself enjoying. Any advice anyone could offer on making this decisison would be so greatly appreciated! I am so torn on where to start, and I am running out of time to make a decision. PLEASE HELP ME!!! WHERE IS A BETTER PLACE TO START IF YOU WANT TO DO BOTH? L&D OR NNICU? :confused::confused::confused:

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

The little bit of help I can be is to say that NNICU GN jobs are a lot harder to come by than L&D; so, I would go with the one that wouldn't be as easy to come by.

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Specializes in 2 years as CNA.

I am so jealous. :bowingpur LOL I can't wait to be in your shoes. I am leaning to both of the area that you described. I have to agree with the above poster and say go with NICU. You already said you feel more comfortable in L&D so challenge yourself while being a GN and go for NICU since you want to do both. I am just guessing but I assume it is a little easier to go from NICU to L&D in the future, especially since you already have a little L&D experience.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
I am so jealous. :bowingpur LOL I can't wait to be in your shoes.

Me too.

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Thank you all so much for your thoughts, and advice! I am positive that I will have an amazing learning experience either way I go, and I think I am going to go with the NICU, and then after I get off orientation try to cross train in L&D, or pick up shifts at the hospital that I am in extern at now in L&D. I will keep you all posted on how things go, and my experience! Stay motivated, because the stress of job hunting will be here before you know it! but it is nice to have choices. Please let me know if I can help you in any way!!

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I'd be all over that NICU position. Like a fat kid on a piece of cake.

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Well guys, I am so truly blessed! Last week I was offered a position at children's medical center dallas in their NICU as well. Now I am torn over whether to take the position in Parkland's NICU or Children's?!?! Both places had amazingly nice people and have great reputations. CHildrens's has better benefits and incentives, but Parkland has a bigger unit, and I like that . Any suggestions???? I'm so torn again!

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Specializes in 2 years as CNA.

Darn you!!! I thought everything was set at with NICU and now you go and throw another wrench into the deal! LOL

My first instinct is to go with Children's. Since they have better benefits and right now that would be a huge factor for me.

However, I know that Parkland is a teaching hospital. So, I would have to look at what each of ther graduate nurse program/training is like and go by that. Do either one offer additional training and how long are you with a preceptor? I have read about some just awesome programs in the Austin area and so I know that good GN programs are out there. I am not familiar with Parkland or Children's programs so I can't give advice in that area.

I know you said that you like the fact that Parkland has a bigger unit. But you could always go to work there later on.

I guess I am definitely leaning in the direction of Children's. Let us know what you decide. And once you are working there you better keep us updated to how it is going. I am now living through you!!! LOL ;)

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

She makes me entirely too jealous. :chuckle:D:coollook:

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

NICU, but I'm biased. :)

I did my transitional clinicals in a NICU and took a GN position (well, I was already licensed when it started so ...internship) in a NICU.

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Thank you all so much for the feedback! The crazy thing is, the training program at Children's sends you through Parklands residency training program! You start off with all of Parkland's residents, and then when you are done with your residency you go back over to Childrens. On the one hand, I feel as though if they are just going to send me to Parkland anyway for training, then I might as well stay there.... however, having nice benefits and nice people to work with would be awesome too (at childrens). uhhh, this is the hardest decision ever!! Children's unit is a 16 bed (they will be expanding to 36 next year) level III NNICU where mostly they do surgeries and then send the babies back to their original hospitals. Basically a PACU for babies. Parkland on the other hand is a 107 bed level III unit that is equiped to do surgery if necessary, and has a whole spectrum of things to choose from. Children's is brand new and state of the Art. Parkland has more variety then anyone could ask for, and the oppertunity to float through high acuity to growers and feeders on any given day. Both are teaching hosptials. this decision is complicating life right now!!:) But I am so very thankful to have choices and options! Thank you all so much once again! I look forward to yalls feedback and use every bit of it!

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accidental post

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