Working in an observation unit (1st job) - Anyone??

[winterallsummer]

Hello.  I spoke with an employer at a large hospital (GetMeOutta - not the one we discussed actually!) and they mentioned that they may have new grad positions in the obs unit.  They also have EM and hospitalist (which is what I wanted) but say they have a ton of experienced applicants vying for these.  So I am curious what anyone's opinion is on the obs unit.

 

My perspective comes soley from working in EM and surgery and admitting patients to obs from there.  From this perspective it does not seem like a desirable job.  It seems the vast majority of pts going to obs are being babysat for being drunk, CP, minor head bleed, or acute abdomen that has already been scanned to death.  And everything was already worked up.

 

The employer (I believe not a recruiter but someone in HR or something for the hospital) told me that the new grads had a great experience there and really enjoyed it, and that every pt still has to be worked up "from head to toes".  I see her point about the work up but still, eeeehh.  Can anyone shed light on this?

 

Is this a good job to learn?  Is it enjoyable?  And after a year of it, does it make you more desirable for hospitalist or ED work than someone who worked a year in family med or EM?

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

My opinion is that once your "in the game", especially with an employer who oversees all the areas that you're interested in at that facility (ED/Obs/Hosp), I think it gives you an advantage.  Not only does the employer have a better idea as to the quality of your work since you're already with them, but ideally you would know about openings before they're posted.  I spoke with a hospitalist PA this past Saturday with a large contracting group in the geo. area that we had discussed in our PM's (not the med school) and he said that he was given the option of selecting how aggressive he wanted to be with regard to procedures as he wanted.  He chose to limit his procedures.  He did comment that he didn't particularly care for the 12/12, 7 on/7 off schedule.  He did say that the $100K base salary didn't include RVU bonuses which came to about an extra $5-6K/year.

[EMEDPA]

our group used to run an ed obs unit and do treadmills, etc.

it was good experience for hospitalist type positions, but not for em as it is a totaally different mindset. in em, you are concerned about what could kill the pt.

in the obs unit you can't miss anything, even trivial stuff. oh, no, he was discharged home with a k of 3.2! incident report! (note sarcasm).

[dmdpac]

I talked to several people who worked their first job out of school in an ED obs unit.  They all told me the same thing:  It was a great learning experience but it was boring as hell.  None of the people I spoke with lasted in that job for more than a year.

[winterallsummer]

For someone ideally headed toward hospitalist position, is obs unit or FM better? Thx all for the reply.

[EMEDPA]

For someone ideally headed toward hospitalist position, is obs unit or FM better? Thx all for the reply.

obs unit. any inpt experience will help build hospitalist skills.

[KMD16]

Do it to get the bill pay. Do it if your desire position has not open up. One foot in the door and the other out. Play it smart.

[Dunedain]

I've worked in Obs as an RN and it sucks. As someone else said, it's a lot of drinks, narc seekers, drug abuse and stuff that's already been scanned a million times. With that being said the Obs guys work with hospitalists all the time so it's definitely an "in" to getting into more inpatient work.

[True Anomaly]

Echo the above- Obs units are typically low-acuity patients that allow you to get your feet wet in internal medicine. As E said, it is completely different from EM. I have to cover our Obs unit on occasion, and I'll admit it's sometimes a nice break from the hectic ED, but we do have PA's in our group who solely do Obs- they're typically new grads as well. Some stick around and move up to ER shifts, and some leave for other hospitals or opportunities. I honestly don't think it's a bad gig, but my preference of course is the ER.

 

My new job this summer will be working for a company that not only provides ER care for the hospital, but also staffs the Obs unit- although the PA's and NP's do not transition between the two- you're either Obs or ER

[whoRyou]

My new job this summer will be working for a company that not only provides ER care for the hospital, but also staffs the Obs unit- although the PA's and NP's do not transition between the two- you're either Obs or ER

TA: Good Luck to you

[whoRyou]

Do it to get the bill pay. Do it if your desire position has not open up. One foot in the door and the other out. Play it smart.

FWIW, I concur it sounds like a good stepping stone

[winterallsummer]

Hello I wanted to bump this thread to see if anyone could add in put such as what kind of PTs they admit to obs, what a day working in obs would be like etc? Am interviewing for a position of this nature soon and the location is great for me. How do ppl think this would compare to a FM gig for someone who prefers hospitalist type medicine or ED?

 

Also thanks to everyone who has been replying to my posts lately as a new grad searching. The help has been truly invaluable.

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

I would also think that this might be a nice position for someone who is wanting to wind down their career yet stay current on licensure, build up retirement, maintain employer health insurance, etc..  Winter, as noted in a PM to you, there are slots opening for a new obs. unit in a N. Texas facility staffed by individuals from everyone's favorite EM staffing group.  I've contacted them twice just for the sake of getting more information, and even stated that I would be willing to fill the late evening/early morning 9 hr. shifts 3 days/week (it's posted as part-time) since I figure that these would be the less desirable shifts, and I am an empty-nester.  Being a much shorter commute than the VA, why not?  Only problem is, the recruiters don't call back (didn't give them my CV yet).  Must be that black cloud.

[winterallsummer]

GetMe, this may be a similar position, I have a phone interview coming up, but could be a different hospital, not sure.  Anyway on a somewhat related note I sent you an email about a low volume, high acuity rural ED position if you have any interest - they want a sole provider, very low volume.

 

Do you think this is a good opportunity for a new grad??

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

See PM.