Hi all- I have about 6.5 months of orthopedic/ trauma experience. I’m unsure about what specialty to go into but I do know that I’m not cut out for the ICU and tele unit. Any suggestions of what to go into? Currently working at a SNF.
May i suggest you try a Float position? You would be exposed to different units and be able to make a more informed decision about your fit.
Where do you want to work, you mentioned tele and ICU. These are two different units that need two different levels of experience. If you want to go to ICU, see if they offer at least a 4-6 month orientation, if they don't and you want to go to the ICU start in telemetry first. Telemetry will give you the foundational knowledge that you will only build on when you go to ICU as far as the skilled nursing facility, does your skilled nursing facility have vents and trachs, those are patient populations that you will have in the ICU. If not skilled nursing (nursing home) is not adding to that experience, you mentioned orthopedic trauma experience where is this experience, what department. In my opinion, the specialty you should try should be the unit you feel most comfortable, you can be trained to work anywhere, in todays market I'm just not sure that they will take the time and train you effectively to go straight into the ICU, but if its where you want to be say that and maybe they have a training, its expensive unless provided by your facility but the ECCO modules should be your didactic training which take about a month to complete, then its the 2-3 months of 1:1 preceptor training you have to have, the ICU may want you to have a solid telemetry background think minimum 1 year or at the least a medical surgical background to go think minimum 6 months, I have seen nurse go straight to ICU, but its harder without the extensive training and just learn as you go if you are not given that by the organization, I would go tele then ICU, then you can go to any department in the hospital. The Operating Room is another place, but if you don't like it you still will only have that as your experience, telemetry will take you to any department that you want work in
Stay with the SNFyou will gain more knowledge to go work in the hospital if that is what you want to do. It takes time and you will learn at a slower pace.
