From med surg to labor and delivery career advice

Published

I am a new nurse with only 6 months behind me of med surg. I have recently discovered that med surg is not the place for me due to the fact that I am having a hard time keeping up on the floor. I want to switch to another area but am not sure what would be best labor and delivery or a procedural area such as endo or even surgery. Labor and delivery is where I always wanted to end up but I am now second guessing myself after being told that if I can't keep up on med surg I won't be able to keep up on labor and delivery since the floors are the same. Are the areas really the same in dynamics and pace?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, PCU, UCC, Observation medicine.

I've been in every area of the hospital, except L&D. My only experience there is when my wife had our kids. hah. Those nurses were busy, 30+ rooms, and I only saw a few of them running around. . .

Every unit is busy in their own way. You've only been a nurse for 6 months, how long ago did you finish orientation? Pick your head up, don't second guess yourself. You'll get better and faster with time/experience. If you're wanting to leave MS solely because you feel you are too slow, that is not a good reason in my opinion. Every floor, in every unit you are running around. There is no 'easy' job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am a new nurse with only 6 months behind me of med surg. I have recently discovered that med surg is not the place for me due to the fact that I am having a hard time keeping up on the floor. I want to switch to another area but am not sure what would be best labor and delivery or a procedural area such as endo or even surgery. Labor and delivery is where I always wanted to end up but I am now second guessing myself after being told that if I can't keep up on med surg I won't be able to keep up on labor and delivery since the floors are the same. Are the areas really the same in dynamics and pace?

A few thoughts:

It's pretty normal to be "shaky" after only six months. I've heard it take two years to feel OK and seven years to feel competent.

Some L&D wards may prefer a candidate with med/surg experience and experience in solid blocks is usually preferable over the "job hopping" sort.

Although I doubt L&D is easier you may find it to be if you have a strong interest in the area and really want to be there. And since it's not an area that people get into accidentally, you're more likely to be surrounded by people who enjoy what they do (to some extent, at least!!). People in med/surg may or may not have their eye on the door ...especially units that hire new graduates.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I finished orientation about 4 months ago. I thought I was getting better over time but the reason I'm so discouraged was because my boss as well told me she didn't think med surg was for me and saw I was having trouble keeping up too, and then told me I could resign. I know no area is easy, but I just want to find a place I can learn and grow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That is true. Our unit takes a ton of new grads and people are constantly coming and going. I love L and D, it was my favorite clinical rotation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is true. Our unit takes a ton of new grada and people are constantly coming and going. I love L and D, was my favorite clinical rotation.

If you hit the "quote" button in the bottom right corner before replying, other people will know who you're replying to (although it's pretty obvious in this case).

I think I had four months of orientation as a new grad in med/surg and it was still very rough coming off orientation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you hit the "quote" button in the bottom right corner before replying, other people will know who you're replying to (although it's pretty obvious in this case).

I think I had four months of orientation as a new grad in med/surg and it was still very rough coming off orientation.

Thank you! Im new to this so I'm still trying to figure the site out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you hit the "quote" button in the bottom right corner before replying, other people will know who you're replying to (although it's pretty obvious in this case).

I think I had four months of orientation as a new grad in med/surg and it was still very rough coming off orientation.

I had a total of 7 weeks on my shift and 3 weeks on a shift I wasn't even working. I wish I could have had 4 months. That might have helped a little more.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

With a manager who sounds that discouraging, no wonder there are a lot of nurses are coming and going(emphasis on leaving).

It is too soon to say if med surg is not for you. Being told you can resign after only 4 months on your own as a new nurse is no way to retain staff.

I wish you had some encouragement at work so you can build skill and confidence and the speed will follow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the First Year After Nursing Licensure Forum.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sort of in the same boat as you, so I'll share my experience. I have been working for almost 7 months. I work on an acute neuroscience/cardiac floor. The first four months I hated going to work. I got a sick feeling in my stomach every day before my shift. I talked to my anm and she said she felt the same way when she was new. Everyone says to wait at least a year before you feel "good". Well after my conversation with my anm I felt better. Each day seemed better and I felt more competent. (Still asking dumb questions and still praying that my shift that night was going to be a good one but I still better). As my 6 month mark came, I realized this was not where I wanted to be. While I was at work I often was thinking of what it'd be like in a different department and how i was tired of my not sick patients yelling for help with things that they had proven they could do themselves while I have a patient across the hall who's BP is 210/115 ready to stroke out for a second time. With this I knew I needed to change something. I changed my schedule to a better one that opened up. It helped, for awhile, but then I started thinking of other places again.. So I started putting out applications to other departments I felt drawn to. (ER, and L&D) both fast paced, tough departments. Especially for a new nurse. Today I had an interview for an LD position.

the point of my long rambling post... Do what you think will be what for you. Don't let people tell you that you need more experience to really understand what you want. (Of course that's true.. Just like you'll always get more confident with time). Hopefully whatever department you go to will have a more supportive management system that will want to orient a new nurse and be willing to take the time that you need to be proficient to want to stay on their floor. (This position if I get it is 3 months orientation, but will be extended if I need it to be)

I wish you you the best of luck with whatever you to chose to do. Nursing is all around hard no matter where you work. (And trying to figure out what you want to do, I find just as difficult at times!)

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work in med/surg. A nurse with 6months is still new. It takes a while to be comfortable and to have time management down. It may not be where you want to work forever but take somethings into consideration. Do you want to work in L&D at the same hospital? How soon are internal transfers allowed? My hospital has a policy of 1 year for a new grad but exceptions are made. Can you float, orient or shadow in L&D? Many of the nurses I've worked with who didn't like med/surg and weren't sure what to do shadowed units that had openings. My current boss is pretty nice about things like this and just wants people to be happy. Previous bosses blackballed or enforced policies strictly.

You'll find what works for you. But at this point being slow is pretty normal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion