Medical-Surgical RN Survey

Why did you choose med-surg? For the wider variety of patients and experiences.
What prepared you the most?My education prepared me at an entry level overall, but I learned more on the job.
What is your biggest challenge as a med-surg RN?High RN to patient ratios
What is most rewarding?Seeing patients recover, and sometimes getting a thanks for the good job from them.
Any advice for 1st year grads? Remember you are a new grad, and don't expect to know everything. Be gentle with yourself. Nurses do not eat their young.

Why did you choose med-surg?
It was the only day shift open when I graduated. But, I also think realistly I provides new nurses with a wider range of learning experiences.

What prepared you the most?
Two years of juggling nursing school, a handsome fiance, and working 20+ hrs as a med-surge work clerk. God Bless the work clerk.

What is your biggest challenge as a med-surg RN?
Delegation. 2 years as a work clerk/nurses's aide makes me hate to ask for help, even when I need it. They are very busy folks, best I remember.

What is most rewarding?
Being intruduced in the grocery store as "the nurse that saved my life".

Any advice for 1st year grads?
Take the shift one minute at a time. Keep a running tally of what has the be done, and get to it when you can. Do the most important first, and then worry about the rest. You can't do it all at once, so why worry about it and let it frazzle you. It doesn't help. Trust me on that one. You will just make yourself crazy.