New grad on med surg unit

Fiona59 · Sep 2, 2017

Hell, that's nothing. Imagine if you will a serious job shortage and family constraint on availability. Which resulted in four years of casual work in Long Term Care. Heavy Long Term Care units.

Med-Surg when I finally was able to move into Acute Care was a picnic. The time management skills I learnt were invaluable. I knew my drugs.

Would I do it again? Yes, but not for four years.

Head down, nose to the grindstone and nurse on.

You learn everyday and with every patient. The skills you learn will transfer in ways that you don't yet even understand.

NurseLAE, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2017

Thank you ðŸ˜Š

NurseLAE, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2017

Hell, that's nothing. Imagine if you will a serious job shortage and family constraint on availability. Which resulted in four years of casual work in Long Term Care. Heavy Long Term Care units.
Med-Surg when I finally was able to move into Acute Care was a picnic. The time management skills I learnt were invaluable. I knew my drugs.
Would I do it again? Yes, but not for four years.
Head down, nose to the grindstone and nurse on.
You learn everyday and with every patient. The skills you learn will transfer in ways that you don't yet even understand.

Thank you í ½í¸Š

Cactus Nurse · Sep 2, 2017

I did home health for my first 5 months, absolutely hated. I was so bored, but I was able to learn a lot of random things, most nurses don't do- like standing frames, pt exercises, AFO boots, a lot of little ransom things which I don't so at all now. I got into drug treatment after and as much as I thought I wasn't using my nursing skills, it has helped me so much today. I know all my psych meds, how to deal with detoxing pt, etc....

Just learn what you can, learn your meds, learn assessments, diagnosis, you will learn a lot, you just may not realize it now, but you will your next position.

I've been a nurse almost 2 years and I'm so glad I did those jobs, because I got exposure and that's what I see a lot of nurses lack. Good luck

Sour Lemon · Sep 2, 2017

hello all!
im a new grad nurse working on a med surg unit. med surg was not my first pick, but they hired me. i was told by many people that i should get a year of med surg experience before becoming an OB nurse (dream job/field). im striving to work med surg at least 6-12mo. i have been working for two weeks. so far im learning alot but i can see med surg is not for me. this unit is like a dumping ground and most of the patients are geriatric. you have your good nurses and your not so good nurses. my preceptor is a really good nurse and med surg is truly her thing. i admire that so much, i hope to thrive that way in OB nursing. i was told that we can transfer after working 6mo, which has been on my mind. the unit manager is aware of my future goals but i feel bad that i really dont like med surg. i will do my best to stick it out and learn as much as i can , but i do see that med surg is not my thing. i do believe working the night shift will help me get through on most days. i also know the first year of nursing is not easy! how did some of you deal with your first year as a new nurse on a unit you didn't care for???

A change in perspective might help. All the sweet-faced little babies in OB will grow up to be geriatric patients in some "dumping ground" ...as will you, and everyone you love.

caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

Hell, that's nothing. Imagine if you will a serious job shortage and family constraint on availability. Which resulted in four years of casual work in Long Term Care. Heavy Long Term Care units.
Med-Surg when I finally was able to move into Acute Care was a picnic. The time management skills I learnt were invaluable. I knew my drugs.
Would I do it again? Yes, but not for four years.
Head down, nose to the grindstone and nurse on.
You learn everyday and with every patient. The skills you learn will transfer in ways that you don't yet even understand.

Glad to see that I'm not the only one that feels this way. I just put in my year at LTC facility, and am currently working in Med-Surg. Now I'm looking back on the past year and thinking to myself, how in the world did I manage those ratios? I'm still not exactly sure, but I know that I got better at doing things a lot faster, prioritizing needs and managing my time.

Hang in there, OP! As the poster above stated, you will use your experience in the future. It may be hard now, but the results later on down the road will be worth it.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

Deep breaths. You can do this. Listen and learn.

Namaste.

NurseLAE, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

Thank you , í ½í¸Š

RNperdiem, RN · Sep 3, 2017

I did not have an easy time in med-surg as a new grad either. Sometimes I would remind myself that I had a job, it paid more than CNA, the skills I was learning would be transferable in a new job, and I did not have to stay forever.

Hang in there.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Sep 3, 2017

Learn what you can and, I mean this in the nicest way, try to keep your OB dreams on the DL. It's OK to not like any one area of nursing, but while you're in it, be gracious. Med-Surg is a hodgepodge, but not a dumping ground. Where should these patients go for care? Not every facility has highly specialized, "hip - replacement only" floors. 6 months is not a lot of experience as a new grad (they factor in your orientation) so keep this in mind if you do not get your transfer right away. Again not trying to be gloom and doom but I am a realist. I definitely understand your situation, just try to have an open attitude while you're there. Your experience will be valuable in any context.

NurseLAE, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I will continue to do my best, learn, and stay positive. I just take it one day at a time. Having a good preceptor is a plus . Having PCTs that don't always do their work, which I don't mind helping out at times is a negative thing on this unit. Again , thank you !