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First, some flight programs have "Ride-Along" which is a gas. It's worth it to just give them a call, I went when I was a student. One should go for their dreams, however, just remember that there really are very few of these jobs, I don't know the numbers but I'm sure there are far more Neurosurgeons than Flight Nurses in America. When I hung out with them for 2 days waiting for a trip I could ride on, most of them had "real" ICU jobs and picked up a few days a month, that might not be true today. Oddly several years later when going through an orientation for some Per-diem work at a Level 1 ER the "EX" Head Flight Nurse was also in the group. Told me he had quit a few years back because the pay was so bad. Look I have no expertise in this area other than a few "fun rides" and launching many and receiving a few choppers. I don't know if there is a flight nurse among this group who could shed some more light. I remember one guy I was talking to who was both an RN and Paramedic told me he could fly (meaning payed) easier as a Paramedic. Now that I have thunderstormed your parade, I can not tell you how cool it was when I went up in the "Chopper". That said, I hung out on the ground with the staff for 2 days before a call came in that I could go with as a PEDS call were off limits, as they picked up a PEDS Nurse for those calls. To return to your "Title" question if it's ER - should I go for my paramedic or BSN? I would say without a doubt BSN. Yes, it is true that to many Hospitals an RN is just that and nothing more and true often times a new ASN has better clinical skills than a BSN, however, that gap is short lived. To advance, most places like a BSN. Not many but some hospitals pay significantly more to a BSN. In the VA system a Nurse with 3 years experience with an ASN (Nurse-1 Step 3) would make $44,839 while a BSN (Nurse-2 Step 1) would make $59,644 Now these numbers have some variables, a Nurse-1 would probably get a "step" for each year, while one would probably need at least 2 years even "with" a BSN to make a Nurse-2 Step 1. Regardless that's a $14,805 difference for that degree. Again, this is not because having a "paramedic" is bad it's just that no one will pay you more for it in the ER, now if you still want to moonlight on a Rig, sure go ahead but it won't translate much to the ER.

If your hospital is PEDS well then you "will" be involved in Codes of children. I don't know that it gets easier, people/staff learn how to deal with it. It's okay to seek help, pray or just talk we are all different, I'm able to leave the hospital behind when I go home. In one sense Pediactric Codes are hard because you see the life ahead taken away. I worked a Trauma Center for a number of years and Pediactric Codes are hard on everyone. However, you must understand that almost all (healthy) PEDS Codes are respiratory so your chances of a save are pretty slim to start with, that really does not make it easier and the Doctors tend to run everything possible protocol and beyond when a child is involved. This is a good place to vent as many folks here have been there too.

Starting in ICU is probably the very best choice you could make. That said, I hate ICU,much too organized for me I work ER. Again, if you are looking at the big picture, where ever you go ICU will give you valuable experience. Some Units have dedicated Intern Programs but even if it's just a country hospital this is a gift, that will jump start one's resume and may open many opportunities in your future. Programs like CRNA almost require ICU experience. Even if it turns out the ICU is not what you want the skills and critical thinking and the things that you learn should not be under estimated.

Despite what one thinks the Nursing Biz is cyclical. When there is a shortage an RN is gold, with a glut an RN is dirt. This is nothing new in the late 80's there was a big shortage of RN's as many were either reaching retirement or had left a thankless and (sometimes) low paying job over the years and now suddenly there was a shortage of RN's. Hospitals were offering "sign-on" bonuses starting pay was going up it was on the 6 o'clock news. So what happened, Nursing Schools filled up, it got competitive just to get in (sound fimilar) wash out rates were high the school's cut no one any slack, you could be replaced. I was told by the time I got out in 1994 with a BSN, RN pay would be around $20/hour. I graduated in May, passed my NCLEX (first year of 'em & passed on the minimum 75 questions) in late June took July off and then started looking for work. However, now there was a GLUT of RN's and a New Grad was clearly at the bottom of the barrel one might be a bit better off with a BSN in getting hired, however, no one was paying more for a BSN. Hospitals told us not to even bother with a resume the pay had gone down to $11.20/hour. After getting rejected from every hospital, even when I volunteered to work for free in the ER at SLU (my school) just to get my foot in the door, there was nothing. I then went to the (poor) inner city Hospital (Regional in St.Louis) and to one in the "hood" across the river, which is were I finally got in. I believe it was early November. Now since that time I have never been out of work. I had to start in Tele (not what I wanted) and could easily have moved into the ICU (again, not what I wanted) but after 2 years and a legal challange (I think the "male" head-nurse preferred cute woman) I moved to the ER. It was a tough "City" ER with lots of gang-bangers, we did it all, MVA's, GSW, house fires, adults/peds. I figured I wouldn't last too long as the "boss" didn't want me to begin with but I busted ass and in the long run he was let go and I worked there for 6 years. The only reason I left was for alot more money, yes I'm kind of a whore:balloons:. So :welcome: to the world, sooner or later you will get a job, many Nurses will leave for whatever, another field will get hot, fewer people will go into Nursing, Hospitals will offer sign-ons ......you get my drift. The "REAL" question that should be asked/examined is what is the difference in pay from a first year Nurse to a Twenty year Nurse? When I started, the "experienced" soon to be retired RN who was training me probably made less than $3/hour more than me, fresh out of school--that's what REALLY sucks:down:

I'm an ER Nurse now with about 11 years in the ER. First it's good that you want it. I spent 2 years in Tele, floated alot to ICU which is great experience but I must admit "I" didn't care for it much. If you are in a BSN program some hospital offer "Extern" programs for a 8 to 12 week stint in the summer between your 3 and fourth year so it's worth asking. I got that chance and not only was it a great experience but down the line my precepter became the ER Head Nurse so at first I filled in and when a full time slot came up (several years later) I had my foot in the door. That said, when I started there were a glut of Nurses and it was hard to get any job. I ended up at a tough inner city hospital, as I said first in Tele but after 2 years I got a shot at the ER and worked there for the next 5 years. We were not a Level I, but a Trauma Center (often refered to as the gun club) I've worked a bit of Level I, too, and it is great but one can usually get more hands on in a Trauma Center as often times there is only one Doctor so the ER responded to all hospital codes. The doctors felt we should learn how to intubate, as a house fire could easily overwhelm just one doctor so that was very cool. You might be lucky and just walk into an ER job but it's not the norm. Just keep an open mind, you will learn stuff wherever you are. I did not like working on the floor but I learned alot really especially how to organize time. Not everyone can cut it in the ER, it is a demanding, emotionally volatile, and potentially dangerous area, that said if you are an adreniline junkie, it's probably where you want to be.:welcome:

ER is my area, however, the ER I started in we did everything including PEDS. Now I'm with the VA so it kind of limits the diversity I see. By the way greeting-just found this group. Rick