Best Department for new Grad

[Liz520]

I am graduating this spring and have thankfully already signed onto a hospital thanks to their tuition reimbursement program. I have heard over and over again that Med-Surg is the best 1st job for a new nurse given the diversity of patients and skills one would be exposed to. I have been thinking about ER lately and wonder if this would also be a good place to start. I am not ready to specialize because I want to gain a good foundation of skills. I have one hesitation about the Med-Surg dept at the hospital I will be working at, they have only one nursing assistant for the entire floor so the RN's end up spending most of their time doing bed baths and the like. I am by no means above that kind of work but I don't want to get so caught up with those sorts of tasks that I don't have the time necessary to perform actual nursing skill. This is another reason I am considering ER at this hospital. Any insight would be appreciated!

[labrador4122, RN]

i am graduating this spring and have thankfully already signed onto a hospital thanks to their tuition reimbursement program. i have heard over and over again that med-surg is the best 1st job for a new nurse given the diversity of patients and skills one would be exposed to. i have been thinking about er lately and wonder if this would also be a good place to start. i am not ready to specialize because i want to gain a good foundation of skills. i have one hesitation about the med-surg dept at the hospital i will be working at, they have only one nursing assistant for the entire floor so the rn's end up spending most of their time doing bed baths and the like. i am by no means above that kind of work but i don't want to get so caught up with those sorts of tasks that i don't have the time necessary to perform actual nursing skill. this is another reason i am considering er at this hospital. any insight would be appreciated!

as a new grad myself (almost 10 months experience working as rn), i can tell you that you can do whatever you have your heart set on to. personally, i feel most comfortable working on the med/surg floor so i can learn my skills at my own pace, if i need a foley to be done, or cath a patient--- if i can't, i do not feel embarrased asking my co-workers.

if you have your heart set on er then go for it! some people do great in the er!!

i have a handfull of classmates who started in the er and are still there today.

if you love it, you will stay there and if you don't like it there--- you can always move on to something else since you will have your rn license!!

[glamgalRN]

What about starting off on a tele unit instead? The RN to patient ratio would probably be less than it is on medsurg and this way you'll get more experience when you transfer to the ER.

In my opinion, if you want to get a good foundation I wouldn't start in the ER right away. I just think as a new grad you should be focused on time mgt, learning your skills and feeling comfortable as a new RN. I know it can be done, but if I were you I would wait a year.