1st nursing job - NICU or OR?

Specialties NICU

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

I have been reading many of these threads over the last 2 years of my nursing school education. They have been enormously helpful. I rarely post anything because I can usually find the answer to my questions in another thread somewhere.

This question is different. I will probably post it on the OR nursing board as well.

I am about to graduate from my ADN program at the top of my class. I am very concerned with picking the best 1st nursing job. I have been to several interviews and I am now trying to choose between a NICU position at a great level III facility and a position as a circulating nurse in the OR at the same hospital.

I want to make the best chose for my personality and my future, and the place where I can do the most good. I have made a pro/con list for each and they are about the same length. Both jobs offer an hour commute - but there is an option to move. The NICU position is 3-4 nights a week 7p-7a and the OR position is M-F 6:45-3:15, but of course that is not the deciding factor.

I love people, learning, teaching, helping. I see so many beautiful things about working in the NICU and so many interesting things about working in the OR. I know that the OR doesn't offer alot of opportunities for therapeutic communication and teaching which I know I am good at, but it does offer a lot of learning.

I scored better than 99.02 % of the 9779 students in the last year that too the HESI Peds Final Exam. I can do the book work - but I am becoming a nurse to help people.

Any advice?

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

It sounds like peds is your thing and w/ NICU you can do a LOT of teaching with families. I looked into OR, too, but I don't want to do M-F and I want to talk to people and see how the babies progress and grow.

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Specializes in CICU, NICU, Advice Nursing.
I have been reading many of these threads over the last 2 years of my nursing school education. They have been enormously helpful. I rarely post anything because I can usually find the answer to my questions in another thread somewhere.

This question is different. I will probably post it on the OR nursing board as well.

I am about to graduate from my ADN program at the top of my class. I am very concerned with picking the best 1st nursing job. I have been to several interviews and I am now trying to choose between a NICU position at a great level III facility and a position as a circulating nurse in the OR at the same hospital.

I want to make the best chose for my personality and my future, and the place where I can do the most good. I have made a pro/con list for each and they are about the same length. Both jobs offer an hour commute - but there is an option to move. The NICU position is 3-4 nights a week 7p-7a and the OR position is M-F 6:45-3:15, but of course that is not the deciding factor.

I love people, learning, teaching, helping. I see so many beautiful things about working in the NICU and so many interesting things about working in the OR. I know that the OR doesn't offer alot of opportunities for therapeutic communication and teaching which I know I am good at, but it does offer a lot of learning.

I scored better than 99.02 % of the 9779 students in the last year that too the HESI Peds Final Exam. I can do the book work - but I am becoming a nurse to help people.

Any advice?

I only knew two OR circulating nurses. The training is extensive and after it, they ended up doing one and the same thing for a while. They both got bored and left OR after a year. In OR you will have minimum interaction with patients. You're there to hand out instruments and perhaps chart, not to handle patients.

In NICU, nurses do an incredible amount of teaching to families. You will handle the most fragile of patients. There is an amazing amount of things to learn. I find it a quite challenging environment - in a good way.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

Thanks for all these great replies. I feel like I am probably leaning towards NICU although my friends and instructor think OR is better. Strange.

I am extremely detail oriented - and I like things to be done right. I think that is where they are coming from with the OR thing. Plus they like that I will be daytime - semi normal hours, except for the call which isn't too bad.

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To be honest with you, I really rather enjoy working 2 or 3 nights a week instead of M-F days. I did that (not as a nurse) and don't miss it at all. I like being able to buy groceries or shop at the mall during the week when there's no crowd (especially with the Christmas rush coming!) I like having every day free if school calls and my child is sick or school closes for a snow day. I may be tired if I worked the night before but at least I'm available. That means the world to me and made the nights decision a no-brainer.

Being detail-oriented is a good quality in all of nursing, not just OR. I don't think you can go wrong with either decision. But wow, what a great position you are in with two such awesome choices! Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.

You will have ALOT MORE teaching and patient contact in the NICU. I just graduated from NS in May 08 and I went right into NICU and cannot be more happy with my choice. I think that no matter what area of nursing you go into there are many opportunities for learning experiences. I learn something new every day, that's not saying alot, but many of the more experienced nurses I work with say the same thing.

I'm sure you've heard this from many others, but going straight into OR as a new grad is good if that is your passion, you LOVE OR, which is what my mom did. She did ortho surg for 15+ years and retired after doing plastics for 8 years. I would agree with the people who say you would loose alot of skill as an intraop nurse.

Of course, all of us are extremely biased as this is the NICU thread, haha. Have you posted this in other threads?

Hope this helped :)

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I would recommend you look into shadowing a NICU and a OR nurse before deciding. Regardless of stellar grades, NICU is not for everyone. There are a lot of great teaching opportunities, and NICU is the place to develop critical thinking and precision.

Shadowing will give you a better idea of whether you would mesh better in NICU or the OR.

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

Thanks for your advice. I have shadowed in the NICU and I am planning on shadowing in the OR this week.

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Hey guys! I have a similar question. I absolutely LOVEEE the NICU! I'm doing my senior precepting there right now!! I know it's where I want to be! They currently aren't hiring at my local hospital, but I was wondering what background experience would be best to get to try to move in that direction. I've currently excepted a job in pediatrics and think that's probably the best as far as what's being offered to new grads for January. If you have any tips or advice on getting my foot in the door I would appreciate it! Thanks!

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i was also debating between these two positions (OR or level III NICU) and i chose NICU. :)

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

I made my decision. NICU!!!!!

I am so excited. I have over $250 of neonatal nursing books in my Amazon cart right now... maybe I will get some for graduation. I am thrilled and scared. I love dreaming about the future. I can't wait to start!

I will be finished with nursing school in a few weeks and then I will start as a Nurse Tech until I take Boards.

Thanks for all of your advice!:heartbeat

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