Urgent care vs ER???

U.S.A. New York

Published

Hi all,

I currently am a new grad, new hire at an urgent care center and just finished my first week. I like it so far but am wondering if the ER would be a better fit for me. I was working as a Paramedic beforehand so I think maybe so.. I just got an offer from an ER in Manhattan and am wondering if I should take it or not. Other nurses I've asked that work in urgent care say the ER is too stressful (they worked there before). Can any ER or urgent care nurses give me any input/advice/insight PLEASE?? I don't want to leave urgent care and regret it and vice versa. Also I do like it so far so if I'm going to leave so early for the ER I want to make it worth it!

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Things happen so quickly in thr ER that if you don't have prior experience it can be hard to learn. I have 2 years of experience and transferred to ED recently. I look around and tell myself that I could never have done this as a new grad and I am so grateful for my experience. Of course there are new grads who have been successful but it is a steep learning curve. An important thing to find out is what is the RN to patient ratio at the facility. My grandmother is hospitalized currently in NY and her RN (who is part of float pool) said he works in the ED too and can have up to SIXTEEN patients. And this was at a place that is considered a "good" hospital (not my opinion) by the general public. He was shocked that I usually had 3-4 rooms and I heard it can go up to 6 if staffing is bad. So look before you leap.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I have been in your shoes, OP; I applied to a pedi urgent care clinic affiliated with a Pedi Hospital as opposed to the pedi hospital ER, thinking the ER would be too stressful; when I talked to the director (who oversaw the urgent care clinic and the ER) whose thought process was to do the ER as opposed to the urgent care because I would be the only nurse there with the physician. I applied and just started working in the pedi ER; I have a ton of pediatric experience though, but I don't think it would hurt in your experience.

Since new grads start in the ER, I don't see an issue in you taking the position; it will take some adjustment, so make sure you do self study, advocate during your orientation, and soak up as much information as possible to learn how to hone your nursing practice.

If you can, see if you can stay per diem at the urgent care clinic...just in case.

Best wishes!

You should take the ER position. Yes it will be stressful and overwhelming during your first few months orienting to the environment and then continued during your first year as a nurse, you will learn SO much more there than in the urgent care. Yes you will be able to triage and stabilize and transfer in the urgent care but you will be exposed to nearly as much assessment, time management, and critical thinking as you would in the ED.

I left the hospital to work urgent care and i am glad i had that hospital experience first. The urgent care wont teach you nearly as much that the ED will teach you as a need grad. After a few years in the ED or wherever, you are looking for something else, then consider urgent care.

Specializes in Air Medical, Trauma ICU, Emergency Dept..

From one Paramedic/RN to another, go to the E.D.! You will have higher acuity patients, more opportunities to utilize critical thinking skills, and overall is a better fit for someone with your background.

James, RN, EMT-P

Oh! I missed the part where you are a paramedic! You will be very bored in urgent care :)

Sorry to be nosy, but just wondering if you would let us know where it is that new grads are being hired into the ED in Manhattan? Thanks!

Thanks everyone!

I have been in your shoes, O.

Best wishes!

Do you regret your decision?

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Do you regret your decision?

Nope, the ER is a fit for me-I sense that going into my 4th week. :)

Specializes in MedSurg, PACU, Maternal/Child Health.

Depends on what you want. If you want a gradual transition to the ER then go for urgent care. If you are ready for the action that is in a busy ER...then go straight for the ER. Also, you are an EMT...you may be very bored in urgent care as you already are used to the pace and response to many emergencies that 911 calls you for.

Lev

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