What are the pros and cons of these 2 positions?

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.

I have 2 very different jobs I have interviewed for. I am really confused as to which is the best decision for me. The first position is in a local ER working 3 12 hour shifts, 11A-11P and every third weekend. The second position is for a national home health agency. This is M-F and every 5th weekend. I would love to hear pros and cons on these positions, as they are both new environments to me.

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Specializes in ER, SANE, Home Health, Forensic.

I can only speak from my own experience...

I worked ER right after getting out of school. Was allowed r/t working 1 year in ER obs unit... my "one year med/surg" experience...

Took not quite a year off and worked home health. I hated home health. Went back to ER. The experience there is invaluable, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Little to no boredom, and if a patient/family is hard to deal with, you only have them for a short period of time.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

it looks like you already have a few years experience, correct??

if so, either is great, just depends on what you like. do you love the rush of an er, working as part of team, and never knowing what wierd problem in going to walk in next? and, can you physically handle the shift length and "labor intensive" nursing?

or...:mad:

do you prefer to teach, trust your assessment skills, prefer to be reasonabily autonomous and case manage over weeks and months? do you mind driving? are you an organized self-starter?

good luck--sure could use more good home health nurses, but you have to know what's important to you!!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did ER for 10 years - loved the chaos, the ratrace and the pace.

I did HH for one year (as an LPN), had a gun pulled on me and decided folks at home don't need care from me - lol! Needless to say would never ever, ever do HH again.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.

Thank you for your responses. There are pros and cons to every job. I do worry about the safety of home health nursing, but then again that is a concern in ER also. The advantage in ER is that other people are around if something were to happen.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
thank you for your responses. there are pros and cons to every job. i do worry about the safety of home health nursing, but then again that is a concern in er also. the advantage in er is that other people are around if something were to happen.

in fifteen years in the home setting, all but the last two in orlando, fl (high crime and drug use, although disney never lets you see that side..) i have never been hurt or even threatened. in fact, i have been warned when not to visit, and have had pts/families tell others to "chill-she the nurse!":smokin:

are you in a high crime city?? (every area has "that" part of town, but overall???) really, we hh nurses almost never think about this, except for basic "standard precautions" that are everyday common sense!!:twocents:

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.
in fifteen years in the home setting, all but the last two in orlando, fl (high crime and drug use, although disney never lets you see that side..) i have never been hurt or even threatened. in fact, i have been warned when not to visit, and have had pts/families tell others to "chill-she the nurse!":smokin:

are you in a high crime city?? (every area has "that" part of town, but overall???) really, we hh nurses almost never think about this, except for basic "standard precautions" that are everyday common sense!!:twocents:

no, i don't consider this a high crime area. it is reassuring to hear your personal experiences. i appreciate your sharing and your honesty.

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