retiring flight nurse needs advice

[bald1rn]

I am a flight nurse for a large university medical center. Our transports are about a 50/50 mix of trauma and ICU.I have been doing this for the past 12 years. I am eligible to retire in September and I want to do travel nursing starting in January. Will I be comfortable doing ICU nursing even though I haven't actually staffed an ICU in many years? Should I take 6 months and transfer to an ICU at the medical center to get my feet wet again or will I be able to jump right back into it? Any other advice? Who is a good/bad agency to work for. I appreciate your input. I have a couple of months yet before I make decisions.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

What about ER? That might be closer to what you are used to...though its hard physically.

[bald1rn]

I worked in a busy ED 6 years prior to flying and not sure I want to do that again. My opinion of the ED is that it is an uncontrolled environment, i.e. you can be maxed out full and still have 3 more critical pts come through the door. At least in an ICU when your beds are full, the beds are Full! If I could find a travel job in an ED that wasn't a three ring circus I might consider. Thanks for the thought.

[TRAVELERUSA1]

I think you could handle ICU just fine. I had been hands off nursing about 7yrs, went back to hospital to ICU. You have had your hands on the entire time. You would be an assest to the hospital with your experience. Best wishes.