Advice For The New Nurse Entering Med-Surg

outside_child · Feb 1, 2009

to lucky#13; thanks for this time management for the beginning of the shift..."i do a focused assessment based on their admission diagnosis and history. so, by 8:30 am, if i'm not done w/assessments..i stop....and start med pass where i left off w/assessments...then i go chart...on the computer, which i like...because i can then check to see if the rest of my labs are up, or testings are transribed." i start off with the focused assess. too but still do head to toe also. i have been in ltc for 20 years and avoided hospital jobs, but lived to regret it. now i will start work in hosp. on surgical floor and will stick it out. i tried 2 other times and was traumatized because not all nurses are helpful, and the hospital orientation program was not very good. i have learned a lot each time but felt intimidated. i took acls class for continuing education and was proud i passed even though can't use in ltc, but i was proud that i passed it. if i can learn that, i feel i can learn anything now and my new manager is impressed (because i have basically no recent hosp. experience). i had slow responses to being hired for hospital work, but this one i believe/hope will be a good fit because all the staff i met that day was very receptive and majority worked there for 10-20 years on the same unit. that speaks volumes to me.

Longie · Feb 4, 2009

So many great posts on here--also don't forget all the members of your interdisciplinary team--respiratory/cardiopulmonary, PT/OT/ST, dietary, unit secretary, even housekeeping! All of these people are folks who can help your days/nights go smoother and most of them have something that you can learn from them--yes, even housekeeping, I've had one who stopped while going down the hall and kept one of my patients from climbing over the side of the bed;) I've transferred to another area recently and a lot of these same people rotate through there and believe me, it has made an impression (favorable) on my new coworkers (and my supervisor as far as I can tell) who don't know me from Adam that they all smile, laugh and communicate well with me and I've caught one or two telling a few coworkers that I am a "great addition" to their area. Don't ever take an attitude that you are superior--'cause you're not!!!! We're all in this together and it takes all of us to make it work in this crazy place

Yendis, LPN, LVN · Feb 8, 2009

Hey Guys!!!

This is such a great thread!!! I'm also a new grad and just accepted a position on a Progressive Care Unit with a patient ration of 1:5, starting March 2009!!! Any advice regarding this type of unit would be so helpful!!!

jpRN84, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

always do the best job you can. If you don't know something, ask for help. always try to stay on top of current medical topics, even though I work primarily in psych, I always try to stay up on medical topics as well. Also, if you aren't sure of something never be afraid to call on the MD/PA/CRNP...that's what they are there for. I wish you all the best of luck. :-)

jan Christian · Feb 10, 2009

Med Surg is a great experience for me,first it will freak you out because it seems a new life for you, you will say how am I going to do this and that?time management will be your first problem next your patients and next how you will cope up with all of the work and relationship with staff and folks,then the next time your on the unit,you're already embracing it. as time goes by you will learn from your work a lot of knowledge,skills and attitude.So embrace nursing as we embrace our patient with love and service.

frankyfern22 · Feb 24, 2009

Well, I didn't quite know where to put this but I'll put it here for now.

I am going to graduate in May and have no speciality or true desire to work in ICU, ER, Neuro, etc., and so far, desire to work in Med Surg. I feel this is a good place to start as a new nurse, get exposed to everything and get the skills down! :yeah: Does this sound like a good plan as a new nurse rather than starting in another specialty?

Great posts by the way! Very encouraging :))

THANKS FOR THE HELP! Im so lost hahaha.

ilovenana · Apr 15, 2009

WOw... this is very good advice. I am a month into nursing on the Med-Surg floor and I'm greatful I had the chance to read all the advice given by all you nurses. I hope and pray I am a great and competent nurse.

ilovenana · Apr 15, 2009

that is exactly how I feel. I am a new grad on the med-surg floor. and i feel like I'm not getting certain things. especially time management. is there any other advice you can give? thank you so much.

ilovenana · Apr 15, 2009

Hello, I am also a new grad, working nights. and I feel the same way. However, they started me on days for the first 2 months then I will transition to nights. I heard it is good for a new grad to work nights. have you started working nights yet? if so, can you give me advice? how do you like it so far on the med-surg floor?

orangepink, NP · Apr 27, 2009

Hi! I'm also a new grad RN in a med surg floor. Unlike my other classmates, I specifically chose med surg because although there's a lot of workload at least it's not so critical. Plus, all the experienced RNs I've talked to recommended that I start there.

Anyway, it's been a month since I started working and yes, I do feel overwhelmed most of the times but I don't let it get to me. My concerns are #1, there's just not enough time to do everything. maybe it's just me being a new grad and that i have to learn more organizational and prioritization skills but time just flies by so fast! at the end of the day, i reevaluate what went wrong and what could i have done better but somehow, i just don't get it. so if any of you experienced RNs have tips, i'd greatly appreciate.

my 2nd concern is what else can i do to improve myself as a new grad RN? right now, i'm reviewing a list of common IV push medications and i'm reviewing what to do for all kinds of procedures like which ones need the consent form or the procedure forms, etc

i would greatly appreciate any tips or personal stories that way i can find ways to better myself as a RN.

HoosierMale · May 14, 2009

Hello, I am also a new RN on a med surg floor. I went through 4 weeks of classroom orientation and then was sent to the floor. I was told that The first week was to acclimate and turned out to be one day as I had to watch some training tapes. The second week I was given one patient on day 1, 2 patients on day 2 of the second week and 3 patients on the last day (all with a preceptor to help. Now I have three patients with the preceptor after the thrid week and am supposed to start with 4 this next week and am told that should be it for the preceptor. I am barely able to take care of three and that is with lots of help and now the pressure is on to take 4 next week and the preceptor is supposed to only act as my assistant. I am told they can extend my training to 5 weeks on the floor but they would prefer to not. Is 4 or 5 weeks of preceptorship the norm as I feel as I am really being pressured to accept the 4 weeks and sign off that I understand everything and do not need a preceptor any longer? They tell me I can always ask someone else for help even if I am off of training but I see how busy all the other nurses are and so i was just wondering if this is the norm for preceptorship. Thanks!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 15, 2009

Never be afraid to ask for help.

Never assume you learned it the ONLY right way in school. Some things have more than one way.

Never assume your education stopped on graduation day.

Always value your unlicensed co-worker, unless you want to mop floors, do laundry and cook for your patients as well as all the other duties you perform. Learn their names and be cordial to everyone. You might be surprised how they can help you make your job easier!