I don't think I hate Med-surg, but I think I do.

I hear ya! I work a med surg tele unit. All of your concerns are the same ones I have. We also have LPNs, they get thier own load and all, but when it comes down to it, the co assigned RN is responsible, plus you have to do the pushes and any PICC stuff. But most of them are great at helping with something of mine when I need to do something for them. We are always short staffed it seems. I have been a nurse since last June, and now I know why there is a shortage. I am getting married in June, and when the wedding is over I am going to look into Community Health nursing. I love the patients but like the OP said you barely get any time to see them

I hear all your frustrations, I feel that way much of the time too. I don't know if it helps you any, but I'm a night-shifter too, and 5-6 patients *IS* a gift in my book: our patients can be very sick, it's not unusual for them to be fresh from ICU or should *BE* in ICU except they don't have a bed. So I get them along with 7-8 other patients

On a good night, I have 7 patients. On a bad night, 9. Sometimes 8 is fine and 7 is horrible; it depends on the acuity I happen to be assigned. I'm only bringing this up because I think you'll find if you read around on med-surg threads that your patient load isn't that bad, and if it feels that way, I'm guessing you really aren't going to be happy in m/s anywhere. And that's valid, it isn't for everyone.

As for the LPN/LVN issues, it's also not unusual for me to have 8 patients, another RN to have the same, and have an LPN with a similar assignment. But we have to cover all his/her IV pushes, PICC and triple lumen meds, blood draws in the morning, as well as do the assessments on new admits they may get. It may be their assignment, but yes we ARE covering alot of work for them!

If I had to change one thing drastically, I'd say it's the paperwork expected at night. Checking med records and the day's orders for errors takes hours I could be spending actually working with patients, imagine that! Or, allowing me to actually GET a lunch break (that's another thing: you get to take one, honestly I'd see it as a bonus, even if it's a basic requirement, it's still not happening on my unit). I sometimes get to eat, but absolutely NOT getting time away from the work, the unit. No uninterrupted time. And that's common in med/surg, too.

Follow your gut. If med/surg is killing you, get out. Find a new path, and something that does interest you more. You aren't a "quitter" if you find that you've made a bad match; there's no dishonor in that. A "quitter" in my mind is someone that leaves for petty reasons, finds a similar job, whines about that and leaves, etc etc.

Why do I like it, LOL? Because of the huge variety of patients and conditions. Because I'm learning so much about so many different things, I can only improve my nursing abilities in ANY area. And the experience is my ticket to anything, from what I've found. IF I chose to leave, of course

Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment!

Maybe it's time to try a different specialty. For the last 11 years I have gone back and forth between LTC and med/surg. It helps with the burnout.

WHy are you doing do much of the LVN/LPN's work? They can do what they are responsible for and if it isn't done for the next shift, it will be their responsibility. You should only be doing for them what is outside of their scope of practice.
Are you the only RN on at night? In my hospital, we have one-two LPNs and two-three RNs for dayshift. That way we can split up the LPN responsibility. Basically the same thing for nightshift.
Next option is that if you're charge, you give the LPNs the max assignment and take a lighter assignment for yourself in order to be able to get everything done. That sucks and they may hate you for it, but if it's gotta be done, it's gotta be done. One of the LPNs on my floor at night automatically takes the heaviest load so we can help her when she needs it.
Keep on truckin'! You'll get through it!

wow! sounds like we have the same situation...although I work days and I find it extremely overwhelming especially everything happens during the day shift (docs coming in and giving orders, procedures/diagnostic tests, patients more awake and demanding, family visits etc). At my work we have team nursing and TPC; with a team as an RN I get 8 patients, my LVN and I share the same load. she gives the oral meds, dressing change/foley/NG and I do the assesment, IV meds and making sure orders are carried on, we also have a Nurse tech who does the other tasks. I too get burnt out with this because, I always end up double checking the work of my LVN and there are times that even changing an IV bag, inserting foley, starting IV's I end up doing because my LVN at times has so many excuses. Sometimes I get ticked because even a simple phone call to the doctor she passes it on to me. on my 12-hour shift, I don't usually get a full 30-minute break and my other 2 15-minute. On the other hand, when I do TPC, I much prefer it because I only deal with another staff my Nurse Tech but then again, same thing happens I end up attending to my patients non-nursing needs (water, linens change)...With TPC I get 5 patients...What also is overwhelming is the patient's turn over at my place (med-surg), since most of our patients are surgical patients, we do a lot of discharges and admissions which are so time consuming. So, you either like med-surg or not.

I feel ya!! I guess it depends on the day as to whether or not I like it or not. Unfortunately, I don't like it most days for the reasons you mentioned. I think probably the biggest reason I hate it sometimes is the CONSTANT interruptions - I mean, some days, my darn spectra link will ring every few minutes - and this goes on ALL DAY some days. And you just get further and further behind because you are constantly having to stop and deal with stuff. I hate those days!

One thing for sure....rarely, very rarely ever a dull moment. I forgot to add one thing I really hate....I don't know about you guys, but I get really tired of having to babysit other departments, police them, and make sure they do their jobs. This includes pharmacy, RT (sometimes), ST, lab, techs, and sometimes even the doctors (actually a lot). We are grown adults who are professionals...why should I have to police and make sure you have done your job? Sorry...did not mean to hijack your thread.

I've had a pretty good last 2 days....haven't had to deal with a lot of "pain people". I know that sounds mean, but I just hate coming in, getting report, and learning that I have one of those sometimes (and its usually like 4 or more on your whole team). You just feel like a legalized drug dealer sometimes!

Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings - third 12, coming up! Ya'll have a great day tomorrow - try anyway!

I thought the advice was for only one year on med/surg?

I'd leave and find my niche.

I'm not a big believer in the idea that ALL nurses must put their time in on a med/surg unit. There are many nurses I graduated with who went into the newborn nursery for a few months and then NICU. One in particular is an awesome NICU nurse (I bow down to NICU nurses). I have another friend who was an LVN and when graduated with his RN started working in CCU. Some people went straight into L&D.

I work in a rural hospital - I do med/surg, OB and ER. I like the diversity. And we have more autonomy.

As to the LVN question . . . . the RN is the one who has to do the initial assessment so if the LVN has 6 patients and the RN has 6 patients then the RN has to do assessments on 12 patients. And all the IV meds. Etc.

steph