New RN who doesn't want med surg

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I've had almost 7 years of LPN experience, 9 years total in health care. I'm a charge nurse of a unit with over 40 residents.

I have 2 weeks of RN school left. I'm interested in "non med surg" jobs, like ICU. I know a lot of people say you should have a year to learn to prioritize and organize yourself and interact with drs, other nurses, pts, and families. I'm just wondering if you guys would think that's still true for someone like me. I really don't want to do med surge.

Anyone with experience like mine just jumped into something like ICU before? How did it work out? During clinicals the RNs and my teachers could usually tell I had health care experience without me telling. They said it was my confidence and the way I would interact with the pts and families.

Thanks in advance!

[jessica.lanelle]

I was an LPN for 8 years before graduating with my BSN and obtaining my license this summer. I was told by some that I had to work on the floor before I could get any job that I wanted. I even had a nurse recruiter at one of the hospital tell me that I would have to work on a med-surg floor before I would be able to get a job anywhere else.

I refused, as I had worked on a med-surg floor for years in the past, and it wrecked my back. I also have leadership experience, and have worked in a variety of other fields.

I held out, and I got my DREAM job. I work 8-5, Monday through Friday, in a surgery clinic. I am also pretty sure that I am making more than that nurse recruiter now, too.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i've had almost 7 years of lpn experience, 9 years total in health care. i'm a charge nurse of a unit with over 40 residents.

i have 2 weeks of rn school left. i'm interested in "non med surg" jobs, like icu. i know a lot of people say you should have a year to learn to prioritize and organize yourself and interact with drs, other nurses, pts, and families. i'm just wondering if you guys would think that's still true for someone like me. i really don't want to do med surge.

anyone with experience like mine just jumped into something like icu before? how did it work out? during clinicals the rns and my teachers could usually tell i had health care experience without me telling. they said it was my confidence and the way i would interact with the pts and families.

thanks in advance!

sounds like you have seven years of nursing experience. you've already (presumably) learned to prioritize, organize, manage your time and interact with physicians, patients, families and coworkers. i'm not a fan of new grads going directly into icu without spending some time learning the above, but you have nursing experience. whatever you end up doing, congratulations on finishing school and good luck with the job hunting.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i've never even been a nurse, but i know i don't want / wouldn't like med-surg. i can't even stand that phrase.

how do you know you wouldn't like it?

[RNDreamer]

I'm a med surg nurse. I knew I wouldn't like med surg when I graduated, but beggars can't be choosers. So here I am, at a job that I dislike, waiting until I can leave. (Looking for another nursing job, as well as nonnursing jobs) I learned very quickly how to prioritize, about time management, etc, but I already had this skill from jobs prior to nursing. The only thing I had to get used to were hospital policies and procedures, and calling docs, things not stressed in my nursing program. Skills I did not practice in school were quickly learned on the job. I just happen to be a fast learner.

My advice to you would be to follow your heart. If med surg is not where you want to be, pursue the area(s) you are interested in. I'm still pursuing my dream job. I just can't see myself in med surg for longer than I have to be.

[DC Collins, ASN]

I had absolutely *zero* work experience in any health care field, except for my last quarter of clinicals in the ED. I loved the ED, sold myself, they saw that, and hired me.

If you don't want med/surg, don't go for it. It would not serve you or your patients. On the other hand, as was mentioned, if $ are an issue, take whatever you can get, do an *awesome* job there so that 'they' will gladly give you good references. Take the time to get certifications related to the job you really want, then a year or more down the road, apply for that job.

DC, ED RN :)

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

how do you know you wouldn't like it?

the patient encounters last too long. i was short term encounters: in then out, like hours, not days.

[BluegrassRN]

I don't think there is one path to success. Some new grads would benefit from honing their skills on a med/surg floor prior to a speciality floor; other new grads will be able to hone their skills and perform well in the ICU, ED, L&D, or other specialty floor straight out of school, without prior floor experience.

If you don't think you need the experience, go directly for the ICU type jobs. If you can't get them (or aren't successful if you do get them), you can look for jobs that would strengthen your skills, time management, and critical thinking Med/surg is certainly one area that would do this.

I'm a med/surg nurse, and of course I think everyone would benefit from spending some time on a med/surg floor. Should it be a requirement? Probably not. Personally, I'm sick of training people, having them hang out for a year, finally start being able to hold their own and becoming a strong, confident nurse, (not to mention a beloved coworker) only to have them get a job in a specialty field, the job that they really wanted all along. Go straight to the specialty! Don't waste my time and my love!

Sorry, we've lost a few newer nurses recently, after their year was up. I'm experiencing a little empty-nest syndrome.

[mentalhealthRN]

A close friend of mine went right into the PICU as a new grad--had an awesome orientation and worked there for like 11 or 12 years, the last few years working part time on her peds NP and when she graduated she left as she needed a change and is at another hospital and works in the Peds ER-- (at a hospital that doesn't do trama for kids) first she went to be an NP there, then was head of the NPs and when the dept manager left she took over and is now the dept manager and also does shifts as an NP. She set up and runs the SANE program as well. (Sexual Assult Nurse Examiner). She has never worked a day on a med/surg floor and has done very well so it can be done.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

the patient encounters last too long. i was short term encounters: in then out, like hours, not days.

well at least you have a reason.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

Personally, I'm sick of training people, having them hang out for a year, finally start being able to hold their own and becoming a strong, confident nurse, (not to mention a beloved coworker) only to have them get a job in a specialty field, the job that they really wanted all along. Go straight to the specialty! Don't waste my time and my love!

Sorry, we've lost a few newer nurses recently, after their year was up. I'm experiencing a little empty-nest syndrome.

That's another reason why I don't want to spend a year tolerating something and then leave lol.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

well at least you have a reason.

yep, i wouldn't have made the statement otherwise. there are others as well that i'll keep to myself.