Which job offer is better for a new grad?

[mnf8613]

Hey all,

Very new to this site, but I need some advice. I am an accelerated BSN student who will graduate in May. I definitely know that I want to be a cardiac nurse, but I don't know which type will be best as a new grad. I have two job offers, both in the same hospital for the same pay; one in the CPCU (cardiac progressive care) and one in the SPCU (surgical progressive care). The SPCU would want to cross-train me for the CVICU within about a year of starting. I am a strong student (4.0 so far), so I feel that I would be able to learn what I need to for each floor eventually, but which floor would be a better option to start out on? Both are critical care, but the SPCU/CVICU are higher acuity than the CPCU. Eventually I would like to be a primary care adult/gero NP, would one track prepare me better than another for this path? Any advice would me much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Meeshie]

I don't see where either has any real benefit over the other with that limited amount of information. Can you shadow each unit so you can see the nursing culture of each unit? Can you speak to former graduates that trained in each unit and get their perceptions?

I will caution you on the whole "I can handle it because I do well at school" train of thought. Nursing school teaches you to take a test, the NCLEX. It teaches you just enough so you have the knowledge at the back of your head to hopefully not kill someone. Hopefully. It doesn't teach you to be a nurse. Nothing really does except being a nurse and there have been plenty of 4.0 students that drowned while 2.5 students succeeded. Day one on the floor no one will care about your GPA or even know it. All new grads are the same.

[mnf8613]

I had clinicals on the CPCU for a semester and really enjoyed it - they are great about teamwork and everyone is very friendly. The patients are considered critical but are stable. I had a short shadowing experience that encompassed both the CVICU and the SPCU, which was very interesting but I didn't get as good of an idea about the teamwork, especially on the SPCU. I feel that there are more new things to learn about in that unit, although I realize that as a new graduate I will have a lot to learn from any floor I end up on.

Thank you for your words of caution by the way, that's a very good point.

[Sweetheart2005, ASN]

Being that you've had experience and enjoyed the one unit as a student t and saw there was good teamwork and a friendly environment, as well as these patients being more stable, it may be the better option. Do you know anyone on the other unit? It may be good to ask questions as far as how the teamwork, support system and how units are run as a whole.

Clinicals are so different than real life. Clinical gives you a taste.

as a new grad, you will need resources and support. A patient changing condition is scary the first few times. It's harder to recognize changes as a new grad than once you have a couple years experience. It's more often not textbook cases.

I would start with the more stable patients and most hospitals will allow you to

transfer in 6 months to a year if you would want to move on to a more critical floor.

Whichever one you decide, find some go to people and resources on your unit and never be afraid to

ask questions. The nurse I would rather have is one who's not afraid to ask for help and recocnize they need something, but also be confident in your stronger skills and knowledge rather than someone who won't ask and over confident

[llg, PhD, RN]

CPCU sounds like a nicer environment for a new grad -- and is probably closer to what you want to do long term. I recommend choosing CPCU.