Should I take this ICU job?

[SoundofMusic]

In our area, as with many, there are the big trauma level I hospitals, and then there are the community hospitals. There is a small community hospital that is interviewing new grads for critical care and intermediate care, but then it might not be an experience in which you will see every single thing that you would at the main hospitals. No heart surgeries, etc.

I would love it, though, because it's a day shift for a year, which I need since my spouse is being deployed to Iraq. I have 3 kiddos at home and it would be nice to have the day shift. I also am interested in critical care, so it seems like a good fit. Should I worry that it's not as high speed as some of the other area ICU's?

[simplydivine4u]

When you are new to ICU they say it takes several years to feel comfortable with all the equipment etc. Personally I think working in a smaller hospital would be perfect, however don't think that it would be any less exciting or rewarding then a larger one. Chances are you will see a huge variety of patients. In a larger hospital they usually have different ICU's and you speacialize in a few type of patients. I have found working in the smaller hospitals you get an over all education vs. specializing. You can get an idea of what you enjoy and if you like the challenge and varitey. If you want to specialize you could always move on later. Dayshift is a plus too, not only for your family but you will get the opportunity to really get to know the other staff (doctors, respiratory, pharmacy etc) which gives you a really good idea how everyone in the hospital setting fits in. Any other questions feel free to email me. Good luck!

[simplydivine4u]

Oh and another thing believe me when I say small or large its all high speed *laugh*

[BethAn]

It sounds worth it to take the job in the small hospital. Just make sure they have an adequate orientation period.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

I started off in a smaller community ICU. 6 vented beds, and 4 step down beds. We usually got stuff like COPDers, post ops gone bad ( mostly GI or ortho surgery), recusitated codes from the floor, overdoses, pneumonias, that kind of stuff. It was still a great experience, and they ran prisma as well. I started to find that I would see the same thing every day being a newer person. I wouldnt get anyone that was really sick because the senior staff always were assigned to them. The patients either seemed to be really sick and unstable, or very stable, not a lot inbetween. So for me, I liked starting off there because the bigger hospitals scared me, but after about 9 months I moved on to a major trauma center, 25 beds, and they get everything under the sun, and I absolutely love it. Much more variety, I get sicker patients, and am learning tonnes. Theres nothing bad about a smaller hospital, its just a matter of what you want out of the experience.

Cher

[SoundofMusic]

Well, thanks everyone for all advice. I did get an offer (Yay!) and I have accepted it. I shadowed in the unit last night and it was great. I was actually able to watch a newer grad with his preceptor and saw exactly how they worked together. Yes, she kept him on his toes, but it was not in a demeaning way from what I could see. They are hiring another grad from my same program, so I won't be alone. Yes, it's a smaller hospital and unit, but there will be plenty for me to learn.

I got to see a cardio version which was totally cool. It really cemented my desire to do this kind of nursing because I just found it so totally fascinating to watch. I even chatted with the patient afterwards and got to participate in that way.

So, critical care, here I come . . . time to get my thinking cap on!

[blueheaven]

I love the community hospital environment. I worked in one for 14 years. One of the surgeons there gave me some advice...the size of the hospital is directly proportional to the amount of crap you have to deal with!!

LOLOL

[rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN]

Plus alot of the nurses I know who work in the smaller jospitals are the older more seasoned experienced variety no offense but thats the best way to learn. I started out at a small community hospital as an Lpn in the er. It was great.