Clinical placements - sticking to med/surg

Hi there

Last week I signed up for next terms clinical placements. I signed up mostly for medical surgical wards at 3 hospitals. The list did allocate placements where I could put down pediatrics, maternity, ER, OT, CCU, ICU. I didnt put any of those specialties down due to my own personal reasons. For instance, pediatrics could be fun but I have heard parents are very uptight with concern for their child (which is fair enough) but where I am a fun type person I could be branded with negativity, Maternity - well I am interested in Obstetrics but having not experienced childbirth well that makes me feel a little uncomfortable, ER - got to be on the ball, OT - could faint lol, CCU & ICU - got to be on the ball with knowing what is going on.

So what I am asking is, if I stick with med surg experience in the wards. At a later time within my nursing experience, I could possibly think of a change. Is it best to stick with med surg, get the experience and have a smooth transition into other areas of interest, due to increasing clinical knowledge? Or would it be best for me to experience other areas as a student, get the feel and see if it is something i like?

Decision decisions. :)

[MIA-RN1, RN]

Hi there

Last week I signed up for next terms clinical placements. I signed up mostly for medical surgical wards at 3 hospitals. The list did allocate placements where I could put down pediatrics, maternity, ER, OT, CCU, ICU. I didnt put any of those specialties down due to my own personal reasons. For instance, pediatrics could be fun but I have heard parents are very uptight with concern for their child (which is fair enough) but where I am a fun type person I could be branded with negativity, Maternity - well I am interested in Obstetrics but having not experienced childbirth well that makes me feel a little uncomfortable, ER - got to be on the ball, OT - could faint lol, CCU & ICU - got to be on the ball with knowing what is going on.

So what I am asking is, if I stick with med surg experience in the wards. At a later time within my nursing experience, I could possibly think of a change. Is it best to stick with med surg, get the experience and have a smooth transition into other areas of interest, due to increasing clinical knowledge? Or would it be best for me to experience other areas as a student, get the feel and see if it is something i like?

Decision decisions. :)

Wow, I am so envious that you get to choose/refuse your opportunitie and clinicals, and that you get so many of them! In our recent med-surg clincial, we had a one-shift observation only in the OR, same thing w/ outpatient oncology, and about 4 hours following a nurse around a pediatrician's office. BORING! I would LOVE to have the opportunities you have!

I was scared of the OR. Really scared. but I HAD to do it, so I did it and it wasn't near as bad as I thought. So my advice to you is sign up for each and every experience you can! Do as much as possible and get as many experiences as possible. Definietly don't miss out on the stuff you really want to do, but also challenge yourself a bit, see what's out there that you might like once you try it on for size! Plus, you can look at your expeirrences as chances to learn and practice your therapeutic communication skills. The peds parents for example. Or the OB, can't hurt to try it. you haven't experieinces a LOT of the things we are taught, so why not go and see what its all about?

We have *no* choices at my school. Not even with our schedules--they are handed to us and we have to live with them for the most part. We can request changes or trades but it doesn't always work out. Juggling the work schedule around school isn't always easy and I wish I could change things.Your school sounds great! :)

[JenNJFLCA]

For my last semester clinical preceptorship I chose Labor & delivery. My boyfriend said I came home grinning ear to ear every day and seemed the happiest there, and I loved the nurses on that floor in the hospital where we had our clinicals. I was a very hard decision for me, but I may even end up working med-surg when I graduate anyway, who knows. I might not even get L&D, so who knows. :)

[AussieKylie]

I made changes today on my clinical preference list. It seemed it was bothering me so much yesterday, that this morning when I woke up I made the decision I need to make some changes. This way I have the best of getting both med surg for one of my 3 week placement and or a specialty for my last lot of placements. It is like winning the lottery, you put 3 preferences down for both placements and its up to the Placement Officer to get you into your choices. I did put down Med Surg, Maternity/or Peds, or A&E/ICU/CCU/OT for both placement choices. See what happens now for next term as that is when I will know what I got scored with. Oh I hope its good. So if I get one of the specialties I hope it will be fun.

:)