Which job will you choose if you were a newly licensed nurse with zero experience who graduated 5 years ago: A.) long term/ post acute care with 20-25 patients B.) ICU step down hospital (acute) offering RN residency program of 10 weeks. Thanks

B. The wealth of experience and knowledge learned in an acute care area is valuable no matter where the rest of your career takes you.

I agree- I would choose the residency. You would get good teaching and experience and lower ratios. Even though the acuity may be technically higher in the ICU step down, I’ve found that every unit has their own brand of stress. Caring for the higher volume of patients in long term PAC that still have a lot going on may seem overwhelming at first when you’re just getting your own groove figured out if that makes sense. Just my opinion! I chose a similar option as a new grad and it taught me a lot about my organization skills, good time management, and good communication with my team.

Rn residency program of 10 weeks

Great question. Being anRN for 42 years I would start critical care and maintain your ACLS and PALS. This experience opens the door too unlimited opportunities in hospitals, pharmaceuticals, outpatient etc.

Become a Nurse Practitioner and your set. However, do not forget why you got into the profession. Was it for the people/patient or just the money. If just the money, please move on to something else.

As someone who went through a ICU RN residency as a new grad 19 years ago. I definitely say take the ICU residency. Those programs don’t come around that often and it laid the foundation to become a strong critical thinking nurse. Post Acute will not prepare you for other areas like working ICU will. I’ve gone on to work an many different areas from L&D, Case Management to Hospice. I’m now in a masters program for NP. Throughout all my nursing carrier what I learned in the residency program I’ve carried with me and use daily. It’s a no brainer.

B

Go with Option B and do the ICU Step Down. It will help refresh your med/surg skills and give you a little bit more training with drips, etc. Option A would be something to consider once you get more experience and just want a change. Otherwise, it would be unsafe and too overwhelming for you. Good Luck and welcome back to nursing !

B. I ALWAYS recommend starting in acute care to really cement your skills.

10 weeks residency

B if the residency program is well arranged and presented

Having experienced A and B, I strongly advise against A. It’s dangerous for pt and nurse, impossible to do and commonplace to fraudulently falsify documentation. Morale injury is inevitable after exposing yourself to and contaminating your nursing practice standard to watch and learn so many methods of cutting corners, finding shortcuts, and using neglect to satisfy requirements on paper that are humanly impossible to complete. The stark contrast is B which includes the internship with valuable training, guidance, and support. Most importantly it will be your foundation to build and expand into a gratifying career with pride in ownership over solid practice standards for becoming a confident, capable RN. Go with B!

B

Acute care starting off!

ICU step down hospital (acute) offering RN residency program of 10 weeks.

ICU step down hospital (acute) offering RN residency program of 10 weeks.

B

Always prefer the 2 first years of someone who did basic patient care. Always recommended medsurg after nursing school and go for speciality care after. That’s the way I look when I hire nurses.

Residency!! You will need that support system if you’re just starting out as a nurse, as it really eases you into professional practice, especially given that nursing as a profession tends to “eat its young.” Plus the ICU is one of the best places to refine your fundamental nursing skills and is typically in a much more controlled setting with stricter patient ratios (the ICU and med/surg prep you for just about everything that can be thrown at you). The other job is basically going to be throwing you into the deep end and seeing if you can swim.

10 weeks residency

B.)

B

I did a 10 week residency in ICU step down last year and survived but wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. However, if your alternative is long term post acute I would still go with the step down. Don’t be afraid to reach for ICU instead though. Your patient load is much less in ICU than in step down and at the facility where I worked the ICU was much safer than the step down unit because the patients were only ambulatory with direct supervision (and frequently not ambulatory due to their critical needs until they went to step down). If I could redo I would go straight to ICU.

ICU hands down. Do that and you can transfer crosstrain anywhere. Post Acute is still viewed as not 'real' nursing.

B! B!! BBB With an RN residency program, you hopefully will have the support and room for growth, change, and a few mistakes, along the way. Long term post acute care sounds more like trial by fire. Choose to learn with support and mentorship, even if you don't end up staying in ICU, the support will be invaluable for your career. Good luck!

Susie, BSN, RN

B.

B

ICU step down with the residency program.

I would want Labor & Delivery. I still want that, but due to no experience, I’m stuck in Occupational Nursing.

A.

B!

B

B hands down! After your residency you can find a part time job in a post acute so you can get that experience if you want it

A y aching hospital

A NO