Advice on New Grad job choice

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I will soon graduate from an ADN program (on May 9th!) and have chosen to take a position on the L&D/Postpartum/NICU unit at a local hospital. I've had a lot of nurses tell me that I should NOT limit my future and that I should work a year on MED/SURG prior to specalizing. My feelings are that I do not in the least enjoy MED/SURG, never intend to work in MED/SURG and have always wanted to specialize in the maternal/child environment. Am I cutting my own throat by making the move to specialize too soon after I graduate?

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While med surg does help give a new nurse a strong foundation, it is not required.

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No, you're not cutting your own throat, but make sure that, if you decide to change to another unit in the future, you get more than the usual 3-day-to-2-week orientation.......you should get a full 8-12 orientation if you switch specialties. This has nothing to do with you going to L&D, this would apply no matter what specialty unit you choose.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.

Med surg nursing provides opportunities to experience various disease processes, procedures. It also helps to reinforce what you have learned in school, and helps to put the pieces of the puzzle together. You will gain a strong foundation with med surg experience. That being said, med surg nursing is not for everyone. I knew that I did not want to do med surg nursing, but took the advice of others and accepted a position there as my first RN job. I should have followed my heart and gone to a unit where I felt I would be happy. I would suggest you go to the area you want to go to. There are lots of opportunities in nursing and you will have no problems moving to a different unit if and when you are ready. Nurses change specialties everyday. You worked hard to get through school. Do what you want to do and don't let anyone else make that decision for you.

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Follow your muse....

I was turned down by my local hospital for an ER/ICU dept position. I just reapplied for positions again as they are starting a new grad residency program in the ER!

My point is you landed a job where you want to work. You are more likely to succeed where you feel alive and turned on by what you are doing.

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