What position should I apply for??

[NurseB_, BSN, RN]

Hello All,

I'm in the process of applying for a Nurse Extern position at MCCG in Macon, Ga. I'm torn between applying for the Med-Surg floor or ER. I wanted to be in Labor and Delivery, but there are no positions posted for that department so I have to take the next best thing. Which department would give me the most experience? If anyone works at the hospital what is the representation of these departments? What other departments would you recommend?

Any suggestions or input would be helpful?

[KayRN910]

I dont know that exact hospital, but I would think about what makes you want to work in L&D.

Is it the relationship you form with your patient? Go med surg

The babies, and possibly kiddos? Go ER

Having mostly healthy patients till you get one thats seriously NOT? Go ER

Getting really good at what you do every day? Go med surg

I mean, they really overlap a lot, but not really so much with L&D. I will say, you are most likely to deliver a baby in ER than Med surg... :) But I think ER opens a lot of doors for you because it's some critical care experience. But only you can decide what the right area is for you, given your choices.

Maybe somebody can provide insight into the specific units at that hospital that I do not have. Good luck to you!

[NurseB_, BSN, RN]

I dont know that exact hospital, but I would think about what makes you want to work in L&D.

Is it the relationship you form with your patient? Go med surg

The babies, and possibly kiddos? Go ER

Having mostly healthy patients till you get one thats seriously NOT? Go ER

Getting really good at what you do every day? Go med surg

I mean, they really overlap a lot, but not really so much with L&D. I will say, you are most likely to deliver a baby in ER than Med surg... :) But I think ER opens a lot of doors for you because it's some critical care experience. But only you can decide what the right area is for you, given your choices.

Maybe somebody can provide insight into the specific units at that hospital that I do not have. Good luck to you!

Thanks for the input! I agree with your thinking and it's such a hard decision to make. The reason I like Med-Surg is because I know I would get a chance to work on my time management skills. I've seen that be a problem for a lot of new grads on forums throughout allnurses. I think I would get a chance to get better at doing certain treatments and procedures that I probably wouldn't get the chance to do in the ER. I like the idea of ER too because of the fast pace. I would also get a chance to work on certain skills like starting IVs and foley catheters. I think I'm just going to apply for both positions, pray about it and see what happens. :)

[link51411]

the way i look at it is. no hospital says you need a year or two of experience in the medsurge before you can apply here. but for icu or er. the say you need a year or two experience of er or icu experience to apply for these jobs.

so to me that means that the er will be better experience and that is what i would do if i were you.