New-grad RN here with 2 years experience in the emergency department as an ED Tech. COVID has obviously put a strain on finding a job at a particular healthcare organization that owns the majority of the hospitals in my area. So, I have applied for an ICU position at another hospital nearby that does not have the best reputation for quality care but, I haven't worked there so I am giving it a shot.
I have been there for about 3 weeks now, there are 10 new grad hires in the ICU with not nearly enough preceptors. I maybe had 2 shifts where I followed my nurse and learned/did things (hang drips, IVP meds, worked in a couple codes, etc) but the rest of them, they keep just giving me a stepdown patient and leaving to deal with their other patient and aren't really "teaching" me or showing me ANY of the ropes. We also don't have a clinical educator and have basically 1 charge nurse for days and 1 for nights. Completely unorganized and just an absolute MESS. My ICU manager thinks it's totally cool to just let me out on my own, in fact, she's almost pushing me to do it.
I feel like it's a no-brainer to leave but I did want others opinion as well. I have a job offer from the latter that finally started hiring again, it is a neuro stepdown unit, so not at all what I "want" but at the same time; I do believe I will be getting a better, safer, and more organized orientation. Not only that it will be a 2.5mi commute vs 20mi and no tolls vs tolls. I just don't want to screw up my ICU experience or "lose" that experience for future resumes and furthering my career.
Thoughts?
