But what if I just don't LIKE it?

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I've been working on a med surg unit since July, about to come off orientation...and I already feel like I know I want to put in the bare minimum (6 months) before I can transfer. The pace is crazy and makes me feel uncomfortable, especially at the start of the shift when Im trying to see everyone and an admission comes up or an issue with a pt with new orders,etc, etc. I dont like doing the majority of the tasks you do on a MS floor (but the one thing I do enjoy IVs, procedures, dsg changes but that is what 3% of the time) and the sheer NUMBER of tasks in general is just...daunting. And I feel like I can't possibly fit all the information I need to know or remember to do in my head in order to care for everyone, even when I write it on paper I feel I dont remember to do everything on time. Time management and pacing is hard for me, especially when I want to take the few minutes with a person when all the while in the back of my head I have to keep thinking about how to leave the room without being rude and cutting the person off because I still have to do X,Y, and Z. And I feel like its sometimes hard to really learn in such a chaotic environment. I also feel like I almost have to half ass some of what Im doing (or at least not do some things I had planned) in order to get what needs to be done done, and that has never been in my personality to not do things 100%.

I know many would say to this "just give it time, itll get better!"...but what if I just don't LIKE med surg? Does getting better at something automatically mean that I'll like it? I think the two are very different lol. Ive read on here how people have left nursing because they started in MS and hated it, I dont want this experience to jade my view of nursing completely because there has to be something out there that I'll like. But I've also read that transferring after 6 months looks bad but at this point I dont really care...I dont know..overall I just want this "experience" to be over. Am I crazy or do others feel this way? Ive heard you can either love or hate MS..I think Im the later. I feel like my personality could do well in the OR...I just wonder if I should give MS time and then transfer or not waste their time and look into OR now.:confused:

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Do you not like it because you're overwhelmed and uncomfortable in your job or do you actually not like m/s? I'm a new nurse, but not new to the work world and it's very true that it takes time to get comfortable with any new job. I would definitely give it 6 months or a year and then reevaluate. Once you start gaining more control over your work day and becoming more comfortable you may start to like you job more. Or you may find m/s isn't for you and get a job that is more to your taste. Hang in there! :)

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Specializes in PACU, Surgery, Acute Medicine.

Med-surg isn't for everybody. The experience you are getting is invaluable and will help you wherever you end up, but consider all the different field of nursing available. You might prefer mother-baby, or ER, or OR, or dialysis, or anything that allow you to focus a little more.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I don't think it's either a love or hate thing. I'm neutral and I have been doing it for years. It does get easier once you learn to juggle everything.

Remember you can quit med/surg, but keep in mind that many positions require new nurses to have 2-3 yrs of med/surg experience before they will look at you as a canidate.

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Med-surg.

Med-surg is basic to almost any other field of nursing and most require some med-surg experience before specializing. There are wonderful specialty courses out there so take heart and explore for the future. I believe there is something in nursing for everyone and maybe something like the OR or Labor and Delivery will catch your fancy. Either way you'll never regret having a strong Med-surg background!

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thank you for the replies! since my message some shifts have been better than others...but I know that will happen with any job...today is my last day of orientation so its going to get even more interesting...I wanna stick it out for a year and move on afterwards..Ill do my best..I know Im learning alot of my floor, I just dont think long term I would be able to deal with it all to be honest, stress, etc. would burn me right out. OR strikes my fancy..so that's kind of my goal for a little bit down the road.

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Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

You sound like me. If I had known before nursing school that I would end up working Med-Surge upon graduation, I never would have applied. Had less than zero interest in this kind of nursing. At all.

However, new grad jobs being scarce I felt grateful to be employed in a Med-Surge unit about 8 weeks after NCLEX. I didn'tjust dislike it, I HATED it...hated the huge number of tasks I needed to remember how to do (TPN, PICC dressing changes, dropping NG tube, Foleys, rectal tube placement, IV's, etc.). I wanted to be a Mom-Baby nurse dammit! On the really rough nights, I drove home in a daze, too overwhelmed to cry.

The first 6 to 8 months were excruciating. I made mistakes, was too busy to pee, the patients were difficult and I hated my life. Could not wait to escape.

Then suddenly, around the 9 month mark...things got easier. Everything fell into place. I became really good at what I was doing and my assessments were complimented by MD's. Finally, I am actually liking what I do now and feel comfortable. Not like I know it all by ANY stretch of the imagination, but comfortable and familiar with my resources.

It gets better. Plus, I know that with another couple of years in Med-Surge I can go anywhere. The boost to my confidence in defeating this beast has been invaluable. Wishing you all the luck in the world!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Congratulations, graceomalleyRN. It sounds like you have learned a lot -- both professionally and personally -- by "sticking it out and doing your best." Sometimes we don't get exactly what we want when we want it ... and sometimes the best we can do is simply put one foot in front of the other and endure some unpleasantness for a while.

I wish you much good fortune in your career. It sounds like you have gotten off to a great start.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Step-down and ICU.

I feel exactly the same way!!! Good to know I am not alone. I was an LPN for 6yrs and now have my BSN and feel like I still am not prepaired for this. Everyone on my unit except 2 or 3 nurses are planning their escape after they get there experience and can transfer as well. This says alot!!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

med surg is a lot harder than many people will admit. I can tell you that you will eventually be on auto-pilot with some tasks and with time management, which will help the stress considerably. But that does not mean you are cut out for this area of nursing. Do your best and decide later. You are learning whether you appreciate it or not and nothing you learn is ever wasted.

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Specializes in Med Surg, some Tele.

I think med surg is the most challenging unit, so much to know about so many things, the least amount of staff, the new grads and so on. I think in the end the expierence you gain while there is invaluable to your career as a RN.

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I just got hired on the med surg floor, my oreintation finish in april. I really dont like, it. I know for a fact after a year I will leave.

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