Bad Rep for Med Surg

I don't think Med-surg is a specilaty. Isn't it what we are trained to do? I work with people who can't work anywhere else. That's scary. I find it hard to comprehend why this "specialty" would be "certified".

Interesting...

Yeah, it really isn't fun. But, I guess that depends on where and what hospital you work in.

I think the first thing that needs to happen is get over this "Mandatory year in med-surg" thing. If you truly have a desire to have the experience of a year in med-surg or that is the area of nursing that interests you, by all means do it. I think that making new graduates feel that this is something they *have* to do is contributing to the bad rap.

The ratios need to change & be flexible. I have 6 patients on night shift, which is okay some nights. Other nights they are very high acuity and I really wish they would take that into consideration!

ColtsRN, I'm sorry you feel that my job isn't special. Med-surg nursing is very challenging due to the fact that you never know what you're going to be dealing with, even if you've been there for years. It takes a special nurse to handle having anything and everything thrown at them.

Believe it or not, some of us are here by choice, not because we "can't work anywhere else." There are plenty of nurses in every area of nursing that won't or "can't" work anywhere else because they've found their niche. Why would that be scary?

Our ratio is 7:1. Very high acuity-very stressful environment to work. Some belong in the ICU where the "specialty nurses" have max of 2(There is simply no room for everyone) Yet, we still have to manage. It's the only hospital in a 250 mile radius-so we are it. Bottom line, I challenge anyone who says med-surg is not a specialty. I have seen many run out of this type of work due to the high demand it entails.

A big hug and kuddos to all my med-surg nurses! Regardless, I love my work and medsurg for me it is.

As a NICU nurse, I know I couldn't come up to the floor and start taking care of adults. You guys definitely have a unique body of knowledge that isn't shared by all nurses across the board. We all went to nursing school but, trust me, you don't want all of us trying to operate a Hoyer lift or a CPM machine.

That was a good one! You know some just don't understand.

I apologize for sounding synical about my job. I think sometimes I get frustrated with the people I work with that have no job pride. I have over 22 years experience in ICU, Pacu, and now Med-Surg. I get aggravated with folks that start IV's, insert NG's and operate even suction heads (these are nurses who I have worked with for over 10 years).

"Obviously, in order to decrease workload, we need more nurses."

I don't think this applies. When there are enough nurses scheduled, admin pulls them to other floors or sends them home.

It's lack of mandated ratios, not lack of nurses that is the problem.

Since Calif adopted mandated ratios, their nursing shortage magically disappeared.

I left med-surg because of being assigned to care for a dozen very ill pts, all by myself.

Med surg is not a good place to hone skills, when you are so busy and too overwhelmed to even be able to provide decent, basic care, much less try and learn, and build your skills.

The only thing I learned in med surg, is that I had to leave.

As a nurse manager in a med-surg unit I am saying AMEN to all of the above. I find it hard to entice new nurses who are seeking the glory and thrill of ICU and the warm fuzzies of Maternal-child. We do absolutely need to reflect our ratios to give the nurses the time they need to care for their patients. I admently disagree with one post that you do not use your critical thinking. You are using it constantly. You could have anything and everything in one day! I am amazed when we have a ICU nurse who "HAS TO" float down, and is shell shocked at what we do. Sometimes I get the impression they think our patients are not that hard (or we are not that smart), when in reality we have some very sick patients and have to juggle multiple things at once. They are usually ready to run back to their one or two patients.
Med-Surg is a speciality!

Well ladies I'm a GN and I'm starting on med/surg next week, well actually after a week of classroom training, I'll sart and I'm very excited. I worked on the unit as a CNA and though it could be hectic (like one aide for 30 pts) I loved it and I'l be working 3rd shift and I already know the awsome nurses working there @ NOC and know them to be an absolute plethora of knowledge and experience and they work together & HELP each other out whenever humanly possible. I'm pumped, I 'll be making less than some of my fellow GNs but I believe I'll get the training and assistance a new grad requires... much more important than the almighty dollar.