Which JOB should I pick?

[Jasminbear]

I have been offered a RN job in the ER I currently work at as a tech. I have also been offered a job in a critical care burn unit at another hospital. Which one should I take? Which one would I get the best nursing exp? They both pay the same. I love working the ER but Im afraid if I leave I'll regret it. I need some advice or personal exp stories.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Wow....critical care burn unit...that is intense! It is definitely it's own specialty. Did you post in the Burn unit under specialty section. They may be able to give some insight.

Honestly, if burn unit is something you are interested in, I would go for it. It appears to be much harder to get a job in this area than in an ER. While you are familiar with an ER setting, if you leave on good terms, there is no reason they shouldn't be willing to hire you back down the road. They will probably even like the fact that you have burn experience.

You will get exposed to some things and learn a lot I would think, not that you wouldn't in ER, but I say burn unit!

[cadency]

My only comment to this would be to consider what you want to do in the future and how long you intend to be at this job. An ED, you can take pretty much anywhere. Burn, however, is much more specialized and very very different. I rotated through a Burn ICU and it is not for everyone. I would ask for some shadow time on the unit if you have not already before you decide. Burn cannot go everywhere. You may be able to take the ICU experience into another ICU... and maybe, depending on the facility, be able to take it after several years experience back into an ED...

[krstxn]

My only comment to this would be to consider what you want to do in the future and how long you intend to be at this job. An ED, you can take pretty much anywhere. Burn, however, is much more specialized and very very different. I rotated through a Burn ICU and it is not for everyone. I would ask for some shadow time on the unit if you have not already before you decide. Burn cannot go everywhere. You may be able to take the ICU experience into another ICU... and maybe, depending on the facility, be able to take it after several years experience back into an ED...

What are your long term goals? I agree that with ED experience you have more opportunities..

[PureLifeRN]

I would say the Burn unit. I have seen many many nurses go from ICU very easily into the ED (and burns would give you a very good foundation for critical care) but not too many nurses can transition from ED to the unit, for some reason.

[krstxn]

So which did you choose?

[MERRYWIDOW46]

I would say BURNS all the way. You know what ED is, burn ICU is intense, and protocol specific. It is a great critical care learning experience as well as a good foundation in wound/skin care. These are transferrable skills. Your previous ED experience will help you with time management and prioritizing. Later the Burn ICU/wound/skin care will help you transition back if you like. I think ED is limiting for a new grad, you don't get the exposure and other skills to transition to critical care or other areas later. Good luck and let us know how it all works out for you.