Hello. I would like to ask for an idea/opinion. I'm a new RN. I'm confused of what department I should start. I am working currently as CNA in a hospital. Now that I passed, I will be promoted to RN. But I don't know where to start.
I have a friend working in postpartum, and she told me that I'll love the floor because the staff are very nice as well as the supervisor. But some says, that postpartum floor are for retiring RNs. Is that true?
And then, my manager is offering me the option of staying on her floor in the orthopedic. But, It takes a lot of lifting.
What was your favorite clinical in nursing school?
What was your favorite class in nursing school?
Answer those questions first to steer you where you might like to start. You are probably going to feel stressed and overwhelmed wherever you start, so you might as well be stressed doing something you find interesting.
Hello. I would like to ask for an idea/opinion. I'm a new RN. I'm confused of what department I should start. I am working currently as CNA in a hospital. Now that I passed, I will be promoted to RN. But I don't know where to start.
I have a friend working in postpartum, and she told me that I'll love the floor because the staff are very nice as well as the supervisor. But some says, that postpartum floor are for retiring RNs. Is that true?
And then, my manager is offering me the option of staying on her floor in the orthopedic. But, It takes a lot of lifting.
What do you think? Thanks in advance.
I think you should go to the department where your strength lies. If you are uncertain or a lot of departments interest you, you can try them out. Rotate to different departments so you can get a feel and see where you fit.
There is a hospital in my area that offers a very very long new nurse program. I'm hoping to get in there when I get out of school. It allows you, if I understand correctly, to train a little bit on every unit until you find one that "meshes". Its not as intense as my current hospital (we have half a dozen different ICUs, children's hospital, 2 full floors for OB, etc) but I kinda like that as well.
Maybe you could do something like that? Somehow get a bit of time on various departments and the extra training to boot?
I have a feeling that I'm either going to end up in an outpatient care of some sort in the end (due to my family's needs) or in obstetrics/non ICU infant/peds (due to my passion), but I am hoping to get some broad experience before then, just to make sure that is what I want to do.
This is a great thread. thank you, to all of the seasoned nurses that have chimed in!
i worked 1.5 years in med-surg and then transferred to icu. i cannot tell you how much i learned in med-surg unit. 10 years in icu, and now 11 in the ed. again, i don't think i could have made it in the ed without the icu experience but that is me. i have been a preceptor for alot of nurses and a few have done great starting in the ed. some were nurse externs or emts in our department and of course that really made a difference. i really don't recommend starting in the ed if went thru the "fast track" nursing programs where you can go to nursing school for 1 year if already have a bachleors degree.
I started as a new grad in ortho. left for about 2 months and came back. I really like ortho. The floor I am on is all total joint replacements. Sometimes a lot of my job is escorting patients to the bathroom. One of the things I like about ortho is it is what I would consider clean nursing. The patients must be in fairly good health to have their joint replaced. You occasionally see some blood and the people get better and go home.
psychonaut
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What was your favorite clinical in nursing school?
What was your favorite class in nursing school?
Answer those questions first to steer you where you might like to start. You are probably going to feel stressed and overwhelmed wherever you start, so you might as well be stressed doing something you find interesting.