Any CNA working at med/surg floor?

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What is like working at med/surg floor? I am going to work on that floor soon and I'm anxious what is it like and how overwhelming it can be. I will have 12 patients and on 3-11 shift. I will have my training in a week or two before I get to start but I'm excited to know what's a day like working at med/surg floor :)

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Specializes in ICU.

I started as a CNA on a general med/surg floor, but it really ended up being like a general med/tele floor, which is fine by me! I love cardiac patients.

I loooooooooved it! I worked 7a-7p. I think 3-11s won't be too rough for getting oriented and comfortable - you only have 1 meal to feed/serve, and will likely have less admits and discharges than the day shift. My day went like this:

6:30-7 report

7-8 vitals and FSBS

8-8:30 pass breakfast and feed those that needed feeding

8:30-11:30 baths/showers and linen changes (we did the even # rooms on day shift, night shift did the odd # rooms)

11:30-12:30 vitals, FSBS, pass fresh water

12:30-1:30 pass, feed, pick up lunch trays

1:30-2:00 take lunch break

2:00-4:00 chart, answer call lights, deal with admits/discharges, "down time"

4:00-5:30 vitals, FSBS, pass fresh water, pull trash

5:30-6:00 pass, feed, pick up dinner trays

6:00-6:30 chart, call lights

6:30-7:00 give report and go home

And tons of running around toileting, answering call lights, tidying, running to the basement for BSCs, and generally exhausting ourselves. But it was really fun. I usually had 10-14 patients, and had enough time to get everything done and still chat with my patients or the nurses some. I made fantastic friends in my coworkers, and all around loved it. I saw a bunch of people come in and burn out, though. The key is *time management.* If your facility doesn't give you a worksheet, make your own so you know who needs what when, and you can just jot vitals and stuff down until you have time to chart it. Communicate with the nurses and ask for help when you need it.

Once you get comfortable on med/surg - take every opportunity to float! Med/surg can get boring and repetitive, so a day every once in a while in ER or ICU can do wonders!

Good luck, make sure you post with how your orientation goes!!!

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Thanks so much juliaann for sharing your experience. And thank you for the wonderful tip of creating my own worksheet if the hospital don't provide me with one. I appreciate it so much. I'd like to float too to other departments and gain as much experience which are valuable if I continue my nursing studies.

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I've worked on a neurotrauma/stroke floor for nearly three years on the 3-11p shift. It's very heavy lifting, and at times I feel like I'd like to have a full conversation with a rational, coherent person...but I do like it. 3-11 is a much easier shift than day shift, because (on our floor anyway) there aren't baths to deal with, and there is only one tray pass. I do two sets of VS, two accuchecks, and one tray pass.

You'll be fine!

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What is like working at med/surg floor? I am going to work on that floor soon and I'm anxious what is it like and how overwhelming it can be. I will have 12 patients and on 3-11 shift. I will have my training in a week or two before I get to start but I'm excited to know what's a day like working at med/surg floor :)

I was working med/surg prior to my move. We didn't just assist in ADLs, we had to do tons of vitals (not just q4s- post op vitals, blood transfusion vitals, etc) It can get crazy when you have 12 patients and you have a ton of surgeries coming back at the same time! We also had to collect samples (urine, stool, sputum) and take to the lab, post op ambulation, qh I&Os, assisting the nurse in various duties.. all kinds of stuff! (my mind is a bit fried from looking into uni info!)

It's an awesome place to work and anyone wanting to be a nurse should definitely see med/surg! I loved it, even in the days I was ready to tear my hair out ;) You can learn so much on a med/surg unit. Enjoy!!

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uuhh...i was completely traumatized working 3-11 med/surg!!!! I was the only aide for 29 beds...and it was oohh ssooo horrible!!!! you are going to be working with nurses who got one foot out the door and then at 7:30 you are working with new nurses who are just getting their assignments so they are too busy for you and call bells. Oh and between 6:30 and 8 oclock i was utterly alone on the floor while the nurses did report.:uhoh3: I was about to quit 3months into it but a night shift float position opened up...AAHHH:lol2:...that was heaven!!!BBBBUUUTTT....I see now that it was a great experience and now whenever i am having a bad night i just think about those agonizing three months...and i instantly perk up!!! :D I firmly believe now that every aide should start out working 3-11 because I believe it made me more patient and efficient. But u say you are only gonna have 12 patients so it shouldnt be as bad...Good Luck!!!

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Great! How has your experience been after you started med/surg? I start med/surg in 2 weeks! :)

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When I first became a CNA I worked on a telemetry unit. Then I moved to another state and worked on a Pediatric unit (loved it). Then I moved back home and worked on a Med/surg unit. It's a busy unit. So many different things on that unit. Keeps you busy, that is for sure. Good luck :)

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Specializes in Neuro, Trauma, and Psych.

As others have mentioned its very busy. Dont let the nurses or other CNAs take advantage of you. A few, not all, nurses will spend 20 minutes looking for the CNA when it was only a 5min job. Stay organized and on time. Have fun and take advantage of all the learning opportunities. Always use good body mechanics. Good luck!:D

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Thanks for your replies I will keep this information in mind!

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Specializes in None.

I went from a rehab/nursing home to the medical-surgical floor at the hospital. I absolutely love it, so far! I work 7a-7p and have 6-10 pts. Whereas, before at the nursing home I'd have at least 10. Plus, you learn so much on the med-surg floor. 12 pts on 3-11 shift shouldn't be bad. Only one meal and vitals. Good luck! It isn't too overwhelming. Learning time management is very important in the nursing field though.

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What helps you manage your time? I'm hoping to get the hang of it fairly quickly. I'm sure I will have lots of opportunity to learn. : )

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