Why is it that Med/Surg is considered the golden ticket of experience in nursing? I work with patients that have many comorbidities and are super sick but it does not look like I have critical care experience (my specialty is dialysis.) I am an older nurse and would like to work in labor and delivery eventually but med/surg seems to be the stepping stone. I just don't know if I can handle the back breaking work and pace of med/surg.

It is hard to be an older nurse and or a or a new nurse. (Not sure if you are both?) And get your foot in the door of an acute care hospital.

Some nurses pass their NCLEX and already have experience as PCT, CNA'S, LVN'S, or are just plain lucky. They know exactly what area of nursing they want and get right into it.

Some nurses really really want to work L&D, or peds, or ICU, or ER, etc., but have no prior experience in acute care nursing and aren't lucky enough to get into the area of nursing they want. Then...the general advice, plan, only option, is to work med/surg, get good experience there, be an exemplary employee, and watch for opportunities to transfer to the area of nursing they desire.

Generally speaking it is "easier" to get hired into the generic area of med/surg than the more specialized area of L&D, peds, ER, etc.

It will be hard for an older nurse to transition into labor and delivery from med/surg. To say nothing of the reality that L&D can also be back breaking and have a hectic pace.

There are many other interesting areas to work besides Labor and Delivery. Maybe you should widen your horizon?

Check out the dialysis nurses specialty forum here on AN. I realize you work with very sick people, but your actually nursing care of them is limited to the time you spend with them during dialysis.

Somebody wants those skills. Market yourself.

Good luck.

Generally speaking it is "easier" to get hired into the generic area of med/surg than the more specialized area of L&D, peds, ER, etc.

I've never see a job posting for L&D that asked for med/surg experience but lots that ask for L&D experience. There's nothing magical about med/surg and it's an outdated myth than new nurses should do their time here before moving on to their "real" specialty. That being said, it is much easier to transfer within a hospital once you have a foot in the door than get hired into your first choice off the bat. Try to leverage the skills you do have towards the position you want and keep your eye out for ways to educate yourself and show interest. Can you get EFM training/certification? NRP? While these are things that most employers provide/pay for, taking the initiative to get the ball rolling shows interest and commitment to specialty you want to move into. Best of luck!

I'm sure there is some regionality to this, but in my area, there are usually more med surg positions open then other specialties. While some new grads get into the ICU or the ED, most cut their teeth in med surg or telemetry and then move to those other specialties. As such, it looks like med surg is a golden ticket, but, in reality, it is a hospital job that is open for new grads, and some use it at a stepping stone.