CAN ANYONE SPARE AN ENCOURAGING WORD?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi, my name is Michelle and Im a nursing student. Im feeling very frustrated right now because Im doing my med-surg clinical rotation and I absolutly despise everything about it. Im very worried that I made the wrong decision going into nursing. I would be very encouraged to here from successful nurses ( or students ) who shared a similar experience ( is that possible?) I would hate to think that Ive spent all this time and hard work in school for nothing! Please someone reassure me that there is life and OPPURTUNITY beyond (for me way beyond) med-surg! Thanks !!!

Michelle,

Stay with it! There will be days (and weeks) from hell, but the experience in Med/Surg is very helpful in all areas of patient care. After a year or two in Med/Surg, the doors will open to other areas more easily.

I started out as a float nurse, doing mostly med/surg, then some Telemetry and Pediatrics. After that I switched to ICU/Telemetry, then on to the ER (my real ambition was, and is, ER nursing). During those few years, I maintained my ACLS and PALS, as well as continued to work as an EMT (local Fire Department ambulance) at the Critical Care level.

I recently switched to a different hospital, and am really enjoying it. All of this began with a decision at age 40 to change careers.

One thing that helped me through the tough times was maintaining a sense of humor.Another thing was the knowledge that, if I ever grew to really hate nursing, I am able to do other things (all of us are able to do other things). This takes the stress out of it. Be of good cheer biggrin.gif, and (most) others will follow your lead; otherwise, they will wonder what you are up to.

By the way, I avoided all the political garbage that went on within the hospital, and never "wrote up" anybody nor conducted 'witch hunts' to find somebody to write up rolleyes.gif (why is it that, if you do something wrong, you are written up, but if you do something right, you are never written down?:confused smile.gif.

Enjoy biggrin.gif!

Jerry

0 Votes

Jerry, those smiley faces etc are great through your notes...I enjoy reading your stuff. By the way where the heck is Groton, NY ??? just curious and where do you practice nursing, what setting?

0 Votes

Just do your best to get through it Mich. It is, as everyone points out one of those fundamental areas, but as a student, you have the opportunity to go home with a diagnosis on your patient for the next day, so do your reading on it and be ready for it. That takes a lot of the fear out of it if you have at least read up on the diagnosis and treatment as well as knowing your meds down cold. Just look at it as this is your time to practice things. No one expects you to be and expert on it all. Go in prepared and you'll get through anything.

0 Votes
Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

Dear Michelle,

I ti is hard to give you any insight? You have not explained what it is tha you do not like about it? Maybe, and explanation, regarding your current disatisfaction, would allow most of us experienced nurses a chance to answer your questions, or give you some optimistic insight.

Rick RN CEN

0 Votes
Originally posted by MICH:

Hi, my name is Michelle and Im a nursing student. Im feeling very frustrated right now because Im doing my med-surg clinical rotation and I absolutly despise everything about it. Im very worried that I made the wrong decision going into nursing. I would be very encouraged to here from successful nurses ( or students ) who shared a similar experience ( is that possible?) I would hate to think that Ive spent all this time and hard work in school for nothing! Please someone reassure me that there is life and OPPURTUNITY beyond (for me way beyond) med-surg! Thanks !!!

Hi Michelle,

I hope you have gotten some encouragement from the other posts. I am interested in what you really didn't like about Med-Surg. Was it the type of patient? The instructor?

Body fluids? Nursing is stressful if you allow it(or any other profession) to stress you out. Nursing is also a unique and very rewarding profession. You will make the difference in someone's life. You may even save a life. It's an awesome responsibility.

I hope you are able to work out what ever is bothering you. Many times the staff on a busy unit are unable to give you the support you need and that's unfortunate. Do you have a classmate that you can get support from? What kind of a program are you in ?

ADN? BSN? I went through both and found that the AD program was more stressful for me.

Good Luck and let us know how you are doing.

Ida

0 Votes

I have been a nurse for 30 yrs - and I also agree with the other comments - Med/Surg is a foundation for other types of nursing. It teaches you sound clinical assessment skills that you will never lose and great organizational skills. Is it the geriatric patient that you don't care to take care of -the current population is getting older, so we do see more of the elderly patient. They can be difficult at times. My first day on Med/Surg was a true experience :-) I introduced myself to the patient and she turned over and vomited all down the front of my new uniform. I wanted to run out of the room, but I didn't! I almost vomited myself. What an experience that was! Oh well, it does get better. Talk to your instructor about your feelings or see a school counselor - or talk to other nurses, we all have a good listening ear. Good luck!

0 Votes

There will always be parts of the training that you don't enjoy, and parts that you love. You can't expect to love every aspect of nursing. How else will you choose which area to go into. It is a good idea to just ride it out, and reflect, you may look back with fond memories. Once qualified, the med/surg area may look completely different. Dont be discouraged, as your training is such a small part of your nursing career and is over very quickly. Just put every day down to experience, and things wont look so bad. Decide what area you want to go into after you finish your training, and try not to let bad experiences cloud your judgement. Since qualifying I have worked in areas I thought I would never go back to, but hospitals are different, and each day is new, so just relax and enjoy........................

0 Votes
Originally posted by Mijourney:

Hi Michelle,

I agree with the previous posts. It's not at all unusual for a nursing student to experience doubts about a chosen path especially when confronted with an extremely challenging course. Have you discussed your feelings with a supportive nursing instructor? Perhaps you can make a pro and con list to help you decide on how you should proceed. I want you to realize, in your considerations Michelle, that demand for nursing services tend to remain constant despite changes in the economy. This age of managed care and profits has not prevented people from getting sick, aging, dying, or trying to get or stay well. The demand for nursing services will grow as the population ages. In addition, nursing is a practical profession with nurses from all backgrounds having the ability to perform in a variety of roles inside and outside of the profession. You'll find that even if you got out of nursing now, you'll still be able to use of your learning in some way. This is true particularly if you're interested in staying in health care. I encourage you to seriously think about what impact you can and want to make as a nurse and go from there. Best wishes.

Hey there!! I am just starting a carrer in nursing at 40!! So scared.I've benn reading the postings and it sounds so intense.What exactly goes on in Med-Surg.nursing??

0 Votes

Biscuit,

I have been an RN for three years. I changed careers to nursing from banking, and I have to laugh when I remember why I thought nursing would be a good career choice. I basically thought "Well, I have a strong stomach, and how hard can it be? You just follow Doctor's orders, after all!" HA! Needless to say, I didn't have a clue! Med-Surg nursing is something that really has to be experienced to be fully understood. I would recommend talking to as many working nurses as you can before plunging into nursing as a career. I enjoy nursing, but I didn't really understand the sacrifices that come with the job. Nurses work week-ends, holidays, every ungodly shift you can imagine. That doesn't sound too bad if you say it really fast, but when you can't be there when your four-year-old sees the presents Santa brought her, you have to miss your family reunion for the third year in a row, or your husband takes your child to school on the first day of kindergarten and then jokes about all the weeping mothers, it hits home in a big way. And the idea that you simply follow doctor's orders - what a cruel joke! I recently had to tell one of our more egotistical oncologists that it was NOT the job of the Registered Nurse to blindly follow a physician's orders. Of course, he hit the roof and I got a blistering butt-chew, but in the end my nurse manager backed me up (lucky for me). I cannot count the times I've called a doc in the middle of the night to have them ask, "What do you think I should do?". As for the strong stomach part, well, that is essential. At least I had that much right!

I have a friend who recently completed an OTA program. Before she was allowed to officially enroll, she had to follow a preceptor to get an idea of what the job was really all about. I wish my nursing program had done the same! The reality shock I experienced when I began nursing can not be described. Nursing can be a wonderful, enriching career - just don't think it has any resemblance to the mini-skirted, coffee-drinking nurses you see on television.

0 Votes

Michelle,

When I was 16yrs old I decided to leave school and go to work, my Mum was really mad and said I had to find a job first. All my family were nurses and the only topic of conversation at home were about health matters, at 16 I was really sick of it and vowed never to become a nurse!!!!

I couldn't find work and Mum said she would get me a job as a Cadet Nurse until something else came up, I reluctantly agreed, on my first day I realised I had found my niche in life but believe me it took many years and alot of heart searching for me to find my lifelong niche in nursing. I am now 47yrs old and 6yrs ago entered Palliative care, it has been a long journey but this is where I was meant to be. It may take some time but if your heart is in nursing, stick at it and you will find your niche. Nursing is so rewarding but it does have its ups and downs.

0 Votes

Hi Mich. Stick with it. You didn't say what you really disliked. Is it everything or just a few things? As a student nurse I had to spend time on a ward specialising in colo-rectal surgery and I hated it! That was the time I nearly quit nursing, but I knew I had to do it. Someone else gave you good advice when they said graduate and then maybe specialise. Have you got a mentor you can go and talk to? Or a supervisor? I'll bet there are many nurses practising today who had at least one student placement that

nearly made them give up. Keep going, and just 'do the time'. It will be OK.

0 Votes

Hi Mich. Stick with it. You didn't say what you really disliked. Is it everything or just a few things? As a student nurse I had to spend time on a ward specialising in colo-rectal surgery and I hated it! That was the time I nearly quit nursing, but I knew I had to do it. Someone else gave you good advice when they said graduate and then maybe specialise. Have you got a mentor you can go and talk to? Or a supervisor? I'll bet there are many nurses practising today who had at least one student placement that

nearly made them give up. Keep going, and just 'do the time'. It will be OK.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment