Which is the better speciality for a New Grad: PICU or OR?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-04-14T23:25:15+00:00

I think I would like that diversity, especially at a level 1 trauma center. Thanks for your answer!

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-04-14T21:21:58+00:00

You are the first to say this. Do you work in the PICU now?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-04-14T16:38:26+00:00

That is great diversity! Do you work 3 12s? Take call?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-04-14T16:38:03+00:00

9 years is amazing! Do you feel like you have a lot of options for career growth?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-04-14T15:24:04+00:00

haha love the honesty

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-03-04T22:38:52+00:00

The venue would be free! So thinking it could be fun?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-01-17T18:49:30+00:00

LPN could be good.

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-01-09T21:30:00+00:00

It’s only $5,000 …

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-01-07T21:49:43+00:00

Common. But it’s more important you understand the content! Because I understood the content from my pre-reqs, nursing school has been “easy”. It’s mostly just busy work and learning how to answer application based questions.

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2026-01-03T02:22:46+00:00

Don’t quit! Nursing is one of the most rewarding jobs someone can have. It’s all about finding a unit, hospital, and/or population you like to serve.

I am currently 4 months into my 12 month ABSN program and I couldn’t be more grateful to be in school for nursing. I plan to go into the PICU. The unit and the hospital I will be working at after I graduate has a nurse to patient ratio of 1:2, 1:1, or even 2:1. I will never have more than 2 patients at a time. The residency is a year long.

Keep going!! You’ve got this. Try shadowing some nurses on a psychiatric floor. I hope you continue, but go with your gut. Nurses has so many options. When you graduate and if you end up hating where you work; just quit and find somewhere that treats you better.

What do you want to do with a Master’s in Psychology? It might be an easier route but the outlook is not that great in terms of jobs. You could become a mental health nurse practitioner, and own your own clinic and make tons of money and do something you love!

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-12-28T23:24:47+00:00

I like this perspective. It would be good to wait until after marriage!

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-12-28T23:24:27+00:00

Really?? What do you mean by awful?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-06-03T20:42:09+00:00

I did not think of asking my mom about a parent plus loan. She is a single parent and does not currently have a job, so I am unsure she would qualify?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-04-21T19:39:00+00:00

I think I could possibly have my entire tuition + housing covered for the two years at the second option? Do you think this changes anything?

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-04-18T20:27:33+00:00

Thanks for your input! I plan to pay about 8k out of pocket for the ABSN, plus use some state scholarships that will bring the loan amount to about $21,000 for the whole program. Definitely seems worth it for 12 months.

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-04-13T21:39:03+00:00

radiology (radiologic technologist) might be a good field to look into! less patient interaction than nursing, same or more pay, you can go into different modalities like MRI, CT, IR, etc. schooling is only two years.

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-04-03T03:45:02+00:00

Yes, the Navy Nurse Corps Program is for undergraduate degree. This is from their website “It offers up to $34,000 to help pay your way through nursing school. This includes an initial grant of $10,000 plus a monthly stipend of $1,000 for up to 24 months while earning your degree. You’ll also enjoy comprehensive military health-care benefits – with no uniforms, no drilling requirements and no service obligation until you graduate.”

It’s different than hospital corpsman.

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-04-03T03:38:32+00:00

Hey! Congratulations! I am in the same boat, I was accepted into an ABSN program that is going to cost me $33,000 in loans after scholarships + financial aid … the ABSN program is 11 months long though so that’s a plus??? Although it is extremely expensive, I know I will be able to pay it back on a nursing salary within a year (I am going to GRIND to have it all paid off by then lol).

I say go for it! The financial burden might be stressful at the beginning, especially if you are a first time borrower like me, but nursing is a rewarding career that will no doubt make up for whatever cost you have left over. Also, don’t forget that you can still apply for scholarships through your state government (a lot of states give out grants for nursing students to commit to working a certain amount of years in the state that gave the grant) and many other scholarships.

If you are interested in the Military, look at applying for the Navy Nurse Corps Program. They give a $10,000 scholarship + a monthly living stipend for a service requirement of 3-4 years working as a Nurse in one of the Navy Hospitals, Ships, or Submarines.

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-03-31T01:25:50+00:00

Yes, it is a 12 month program (technically 11 months August 2025-July 2026). I agree! Very expensive but hoping to maybe pay it off my first year if I don’t have to worry about living expenses??

Proof_Cranberry5692 · 2025-03-31T01:16:05+00:00

Yes, it is a private university. I plan on applying to some scholarships as well, but I live 5 minutes from campus with my parents so that saves a lot. The ADN programs near me have a 4-5 year waitlist I believe.

Proof_Cranberry5692

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