Chose med surg like I'm supposed to, but really unhappy.

[enytsyrhk572]

Hello all,

Like the title suggests, I read a lot here while I was a student and after graduation, I took the advice of most and applied for medsurg positions exclusively. The argument that this is the area that will give a new nurse the most well rounded experience is a very valid argument that I agree with. So I applied for ten jobs, interviewed for three, got offered two, and accepted one. The job is perfectly fine. it's at a magnet hospital, I got a full comprehensive orientation with a sim lab and a quality preceptor, people are nice, the pay is decent, it's relatively near my house and they are generous and accommodating with whatever shift I want to work. However I DO NOT LIKE MEDSURG. I put on a brave face for work, and fake it until I make it though each shift but I'm extremely unhappy and disheartened that I worked this hard for a nursing degree and I'm in an area I despise.

I've wanted to work psych since before I began nursing school. The problem is, when I graduated, so did twelve other colleges and universities in my state. There were NO psych jobs posted and with the shortage of nursing jobs in my city, especially during graduation season, I decided waiting for the perfect job to come up would have been unwise. So I chose the safe route- guaranteed job in Medsurg . I began work two months after I graduated which I thought was pretty good.

So today I saw an internal job posting for my hospital system for a new grad psych position on nights, which is exactly what I was looking for months ago. I just got off orientation at my current job. My question is, would it be a horrible move to try applying for the psych position? I realize hospitals spend a lot of time and money for orientees but this is the same hospital company, just a different facility. I doubt I'm eligible for an actual transfer but I'm afraid if I don't jump at applying for this job that I really want, I wont see another job like it for another year.

Thoughts?

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

There is a saying that all psych patients start off as Med-Surg patients. To a degree, I believe this is true.

How long have you been in your current position OP? I am in med-surg as well and have four months in. Most places want a year of experience before being able to transfer. I am literally counting down the days until I hit the one-year mark.

Try to hang in there as long as possible. It will only help you in the long run.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

Almost guaranteed if you apply your current manager would find out. I'd speak with your manager and let them know how you're feeling. If they're amazing. Maybe they'll let you go and will help you. Or you may be required to wait out the (usual) 6 months before attempting transfer.

I think applying without speaking directly to your manager first is a mistake.

I second this - your current manager will find out, and probably quickly. It would help I'm sure to mention it to your current manager before she finds out through the grapevine.

Anne, RNC

[emmy27]

You may not see "another job like it" for a year but that's okay- in a year you won't need new grad postings.

Almost everyone is at least a little miserable at their new grad job, no matter where it is. It's overwhelming- there's so much more you need to know than you actually know, you're constantly being pulled in various directions, reality has just crashed in to your expectations, and in a lot of ways it just sucks.

But it does get better. Not necessarily "I love medsurg" better, but better. I'd say it starts improving around the six-month mark, with a steep, rapid uptick towards the end of the year as you begin to be truly competent at the flow and skillset of your unit (this is true of most first years at most new specialties and workplaces in my experience, actually- maybe a little faster as you become very experienced and if you make purely lateral transfers).

You have a job that gave you a good orientation, with nice people, with the shifts you want, near home. These are NOT universal qualities in new grad positions, and you may well find out that you enjoy psych nursing but you don't have some of these other qualities that make a job attractive there, and that having a job you love without good coworkers or managerial support sucks just as hard as having a good position in a specialty you hate. I speak from experience- I took a med-surg job I didn't love as a new grad, but was lucky enough to have amazing coworkers and management there. I eventually left for a specialty I enjoyed more, but over the years I've come to realize what a special thing that was, to have such great people around me in my new grad job, and there have been low moments in my dream-specialty jobs when I think I would willingly go back to med-surg if I could have the fantastic support team and work/life balance I did there again.

You don't say how long you have left before your one-year anniversary, but if you're done with orientation, it can't be more then 8 or 9 months. Do yourself the favor of sticking it out to the one year mark. You'll develop a base of skills and have a record of med-surg experience that will serve you VERY well in your future job hunts, you'll keep your boss happy and increase the likelihood of a positive recommendation, and you'll avoid the likelihood of going from "stressed and new at this job" directly in to "stressed and new at the next job." And if it turns out the new job is a terrible fit (you don't enjoy psych as much as you thought, your new manager, coworkers, schedule, or commute are unbearable, you get fired, whatever) you won't have the really-less-than-ideal situation of two short term job in a row on your resume.

The *best* case scenario you have with trying to transfer now (which I agree with most previous posters that few facilities will agree to an internal transfer with less than 6-12 months on the job, and most places will require managerial approval from the unit you're leaving even with a lengthy employment) is your current manager says you can go and you get out of this job a few months early.

The worst case scenario is the manger refuses your transfer, stops giving you the shifts and time off you want, makes work uncomfortable for you, starts building a case to let you go, and is no longer usable as a recommendation when you do leave.

Personally, I'd stick it out to a year for anything less than "fear for license."

[zzbxdo]

You can still with medsurg, but you dislike it AND your opportunity of going into psych is open. I'd apply and see where it takes you. Worse case is you don't get in, and you wait til you can apply as a RN with some experience. If you're going to get some grief from your current manager then it's better to know earlier than later. Enjoying what you do is the best way to get burnt out, apply and worry later.

[DatMurse]

I hate med surg/onc. I didnt like working in it,

BUT while I did hate it, I have seen things that many people at big hospitals sub specialty floors never encountered.

Myasthenia crisis, strokes, chemo/biotherapy, neuro problems, parkinsonian, haldol vs ativan to take down a delirious patient, Continous bladder irrigation.

So While I didnt like it, it helped equip me. I work at one of the best hospitals now and it is shocking how much I learned at med surg in that little hospital.

[NYNurse89]

Stick it out for 1 year past the end of your orientation then think about transferring. Take things one shift at a time. The year will pass faster than you think.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Your current unit has paid the price for orienting you to it. If you transfer, that money is gone and you'll be orienting to another unit that will be paying for it. I don't think it's good for your reputation to transfer now. Stick it out for the proverbial year so your current unit can recoup some of its investment in you.

I also think there are many managers who would be open to talking with you about all of this. Yours might give you her blessing and even help you...

[MusicGuy]

There is a saying that all psych patients start off as Med-Surg patients. To a degree, I believe this is true.

Absolutely! Last night we had more psych patients on our floor than MS. Some stay a year or so as well!

[JVoEDrn]

I think if you're unhappy than move. You're doing your patients and yourself an injustice by hating your job and coming in "faking it". Sometimes the path people deem appropriate for you is NOT the path you are meant to be on. I've always been one to do my own thing despite warnings and peoples own "personal experiences". Hasn't failed me yet.

If it's one thing I realize is that, while most people mean well, they like to push you down the path they think is right- for themselves. I agree, MS nursing is a smart choice out of school but there's more than one way to skin a cat, know what I mean?

That being said, most facilities only allow a transfer after being on board for 6 months. So, find out your facilities policies, wait out those months and make the switch.

Best of luck!!

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

Just out of courtesy I'd stick it out for 6-12 months as other PP's have mentioned. As a new grad you WILL hate your job (more than likely). It will be overwhelming because you don't have the time management. You don't have the confidence. You don't have the experience. Med surg is one of the best places to gain these skills.

Psych is a whole different ball game. Depending on the age of the psych area you're thinking of applying to you may still have patient's with other chronic diseases. It'd be good to have some experience with those disease processes/common complications/etc.

And, honestly, psych isn't exactly the most popular area of nursing (in my experience) because it takes such special people to truly enjoy the work. Many of us prefer acute areas, surgery, CCU, L&D, or jobs that provide more stable hours. There WILL be another psych opening in a few months....I'd almost guarantee it. Heck that same opening may still be available in a few months. Considering you'd be an internal applicant you'd be more likely to get it.

TRY TRY TRY to stick it out a bit out of courtesy at least. As others have said look up how long you must be employed to be eligible for transfer as well. While you don't have to start out in med-surg as a nurse since you have the job, completed orientation, etc. I know it will provide you with some benefit down the road.

Just my opinion anyway.

[centexnurse313]

Going through the same. Been on my floor since June. It's starting to get easier but still.. It's not for me. I've actually applied for an OR position to start in January. It has a nice schedule to go with having a family as well