finished 1st yr of med/surg. now what?

[ignorethiss]

i just finished my first year on a med/surg floor and am ready for something different. i am interested in a couple of different areas: peds, nicu, l&d, postpartum, maybe even more med/surg. just want to hear some advice/stories about other specialties from other nurses so i can make a decision.

any advice?

[EmmaG, RN]

This thread tickles me.

"Ok. I've served my time..."

You've been paroled!

Have you considered a float position to try out different areas? Some managers will also allow you to shadow their staff.

Good luck :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I recommend taking some time to research your many options before giving up your current job. Don't jump from job to job too quickly or too often. You have the luxury of being in a job at which you have succeeded. Use that advantage to give yourself the best chance to plan your next career move wisely. That's what you seem to be doing with this thread and I think it is a good start.

Do you work for a hospital that has some of the other specialties that interest you? ... or ... Would your switch require you to change employers. If you are going to be trying new things, sometimes it is better to stay with the same employer if possible so that your transition involves a less dramatic change in your work environment (policies, documentation systems, etc.) You would keep your seniority, unused sick time, etc.

[Jolie, BSN]

Good advice from the other posters.

Just one thing to consider: If NICU truly interests you, I would recommend checking into it sooner rather than later. Not that additional med/surg experience will make you unattractive as a candidate for NICU, but experienced adult care nurses often have a difficult time transitioning to the NICU. They have much to unlearn, and many just never develop a comfort level with neonates. NICU is one area where adult med/surg experience can actually be a detriment. So in my opinion, the less of it you have, the better.

Good luck and happy hunting!

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

You've received some excellent advice here.

First, take your time and get a good idea what you want to do.

Staying at the same facility, if possible, is preferable. You don't lose any time, seniority, etc. Additionally, when it comes to looking at a resume, working 6 places in 12 years in one facility looks like a wide variety of experience; working 6 different facilities in 12 years looks like job-hopping, even if you have the exact same types of experience. (That's just an example but I think you may see what I mean). If you stay at the same facility and try an area that turns out to not be what you think it will, it's much easier to transfer within than to go find something in a totally different facility. If you go to, say, PACU and find out that it's not at all what you want, it may not be too difficult to transfer back to your original area as long as you left on good terms. The manager knows that you can hit the floor running, so to speak, and that he or she doesn't have to put you through extensive orientation.

The float pool suggestion is also a good one. If you have the skills to do that, it will let you see what other floors/areas of the facility are really like. Working float pool also has the advantage of keeping you out of unit politics; plus, you can have a bad shift but have the consolation that you probably will not have to work that unit again the next time you work! Float pool may not give you much exposure to areas like nicu, L&D, and so forth, though.

Try and see if you can set up some job shadowing opportunities in some of the areas you are interested in.

One of the great things about nursing is its variety! Good luck!