Postpartum to Medsurg, am I crazy?

[MoriahRoseRN]

Hi all,

I have less then a year as a postpartum nurse. I will be leaving this job in the next few months (end of contract)and I will be looking for a new job soon. I don't really have any real experience other then post-partum, do you think I am nuts to do med-surg?

A little about myself, I do fine at work, not a super fast paced nurse, but I believe I give my patients my best. I did not work right after graduation due to staying home with my family, and lost mostly what skills I have from nursing school. I basically started out new at this postpartum floor. I know that postpartum has a lot less of the skills performed on med-surg. I also deal with an anxiety disorder, not treated, undiagnosed, and feel uncomfortable at work most of the time. Should I just go to something similar or what? There are not a lot of job opportunities where I live. Lot's of suggestions would definitely be appreciated. I am really in a pickle here, desperate, scared of failure, and of being overwhelmed. Thanks!

[Katie82, RN]

The reason I am considering Med-surg is because I want to be a more rounded nurse. Most places are looking for acute care experience.

You are right about that - med/surg will provide you with a good knowledge base, but agree that you need to address the anxiety issue. How was your anxiety level in nursing school? Could this be why you stayed home after graduation rather than working a couple of days a week. Anxiety disorder is treatable, are you in treatment now? I do agree that med/surg experience will make you more marketable. Most of the post-hospital jobs in nursing rely on med/surg.

My daughter has one semester left in nursing school. She currently works as a Unit Secretary on a labor and delivery floor and they have offered her a job when she graduates. I have always pushed first year in med/surg, but I don't think it would be a bad thing for her to spend her first year, which is often the most stressful, on a floor where she is already known and liked. She does realize she has to get some med/surg experience, but if she waits a year, she will feel better about herself than the typical new grad.

[MoriahRoseRN]

It's a good chance this is why I stayed home after graduation. I felt like I'd made a big mistake for going in nursing. This is how much I disliked med-surg at the time. To answer your question, am being treated, no I am not in treatment. I have wondered if experience would help with the anxiety, but I am not sure if this is the case anymore.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

" I believe I have performance anxiety. I am not usually anxious outside of work most times, unless I am thinking about work. When I was in nursing school, I had the same problems, especially during clinicals, I really had a hard time. Do you think I still would benefit from meds in this case? "

Most definitely. Basically, it doesn't matter which part of your life suffers from anxiety issues. If any part has issues, all parts will benefit from treatment.

At some point during treatment, it will become clear that one's life cannot be segregated into life/work/relationship segments. It is all integrated. And all will benefit from addressing the issues.

Sincerely, from one anxious person to another...meds can make an amazing difference. There is no reason to feel embarrassed/ashamed.