too much stress in Med -Surg?

OrthoNutter · Jul 2, 2002

Shannon....when you've been there quite a bit longer than a year, tell me how much you love it then. I did medsurg for three years before escaping to Ortho....sadly things aren't much improved here either on our really busy days but fortunately those really busy days aren't every day.

Still I've booked my ticket out....because things are only going to get worse.

labornurse · Jul 2, 2002

I really respect the nurses that work med/surg at our hospital.

They are very knowlegeable and try hard to be helpful to us ob nurses that occasionally get floated there. They have a lot of crap to put up with, but they still deliver the best pt care they can. Med/surg is ok once in a while, but I would want to work there all the time.

finallyRN · Jul 2, 2002

I did my time in Med/surg for a year right out of nursing school. I wouldn't have given up the opportunity for anything. I didn't want to do Medsurg but some how end up there (Long Story). I feel i got a great experience, I learned time management and practiced most of my skills. Now I am working in OB. Amazingly lots of things I learned on Med/surg helps me now. And when we get patients that have Medical problems everyone turns to me.

Brita01 · Jul 3, 2002

Originally posted by hapeewendy
one of the nice things about nursing is that we are never truly trapped in one area.
if med surg starts to bother people they are able to pursue greener pastures
which is exactly what I will do if/when the time comes.
the world needs us, in some small way we are in control of what happens to us!!!!!!!!!
happy nursing, we deserve to feel somewhat satisfied after work, too bad it didnt happen all the time

I'm not trapped in med/surg, but being an LPN, the places that I can work are very limited. It's either med/surg, nursing home (which is as bad as med/surg and doesn't pay as much), home health (which I can only do part time), or a clinic where they only pay like $10/hr. Med/surg is pretty much the only thing my agency can get me. Once in every 6 months or so I can get on a rehab or snf floor, but it's very rare. Those floors are able to keep their own staff. I've even thought about trying to get on staff with several hospitals, but guess what? They only want LPNs for med/surg. So I guess, if I HAVE to do it, I'll keep working with agencies. I wish I had the money to go to RN school, then I'd like to try the OR or ambulatory care.

LPN, future RN, I wish I COULD say I didn't feel whole working on med/surg. I'm expected to do everything that the RN does but push the IV meds and start the blood. But after the blood is started, the rest is my responsibility.

Love-A-Nurse · Jul 3, 2002

originally posted by brita01

i'm not trapped in med/surg, but being an lpn, the places that i can work are very limited. it's either med/surg, nursing home (which is as bad as med/surg and doesn't pay as much), home health (which i can only do part time), or a clinic where they only pay like $10/hr. med/surg is pretty much the only thing my agency can get me. once in every 6 months or so i can get on a rehab or snf floor, but it's very rare. those floors are able to keep their own staff. i've even thought about trying to get on staff with several hospitals, but guess what? they only want lpns for med/surg. so i guess, if i have to do it, i'll keep working with agencies. i wish i had the money to go to rn school, then i'd like to try the or or ambulatory care.

lpn, future rn, i wish i could say i didn't feel whole working on med/surg. i'm expected to do everything that the rn does but push the iv meds and start the blood. but after the blood is started, the rest is my responsibility.

hi!

what i mean about feeling or not feeling "wholw" is somewhat summed up in yourlast two sentences.

iv pushes, starting blood, a few more meds, etc. (depending on the state/facility for some things, i know, but i am talking hospital mainly) we can't do either and this is just the point. i can understand why some hospitals only want to hire rns.

the rns have to be responsible for their patients, paperwork, etc, and then have to make sure the patients we (lpns) have get their meds we can't do.

i know most don't mind, but i can understand if they do mind, i am speaking of rns, coming behind us.

a "double job" for them. it "pulls" at me too and this, among other reasons, is why i am ready to move on to become an rn.

the goals that i have for myself requires me to be not only an rn but have my bsn and if it is gods will and with all my determination, i will succeed.

this is not to say that lpns are not useful, on the contrary, we are very important to the lifeline of nursing in many reqards.

me being the person, i am, just felt trapped because i am earger to learn and then i am ready to do and want to be able to have more places to work than the ones you spoke of previously.

i just don't want to monitor the blood infusion, or call my rn to push the meds, teach my patients more than just the surface of what i am doing with out the schooling, be able to apply for and get the charge nurse position (hospital), so forth and so on.

i have asked my rn and doctor (even before thinking about going to get my rn), to let me go in and see, and ask why they do what they do and when i get my rn, i still will have to ask questions, but at least i will have a little more understanding of what it is i am to do and the whys of what i am doing.

lpn are nurses too, but i am ready to be at another level of nursing.

my book is finished, would you like the first copy! lots of love we are all different and this is a good thing!

deespoohbear · Jul 3, 2002

I have worked med/surg for 7 years. I have gained a wealth of knowledge. I feel confident that I can handle about any situation that might arise in med/surg. It can be a real pit though. We are expected to take as many as 8 patients on day shift. That can be really bad. Not to mention the poor nurses on night shift who sometimes have upward of 10-12 patients. That is insanity. :eek: It is very difficult to provide decent care when you have so much to be responsible for. I have actually called the DON (we work in a small hospital) and told her I need help. And at that point, I usually get it. If someone wants to gain lots of knowledge, med-surg can't be beat. But the stress can be very overwhelming at times.

Brita01 · Jul 3, 2002

LPN,Future, RN, like I said, I personally feel whole working in med/surg because I do enough as it is. If I had to work in med/surg as an RN, I would feel like TWO whole people. Adding IV pushes, hanging blood, AND possibly being charge nurse on top of what I already do? No thanks. I don't want my RN because I feel I need more work to do. I want my RN because it's the only way I can move to another field. But, as I have no school money, it will be a long time coming.

Love-A-Nurse · Jul 3, 2002

originally posted by brita01
lpn,future, rn, like i said, i personally feel whole working in med/surg because i do enough as it is. if i had to work in med/surg as an rn, i would feel like two whole people. adding iv pushes, hanging blood, and possibly being charge nurse on top of what i already do? no thanks. i don't want my rn because i feel i need more work to do. i want my rn because it's the only way i can move to another field. but, as i have no school money, it will be a long time coming.

i understand your post clearly. my post was not to say, i need more work to do, but that i did not feel "whole" working in the hospital as an lpn and because i have other goals, getting my rn is the way to achieve them.

even though you may not want more work to do, it comes with being an rn.

i really do think we are on the same track here.

you can not get grants, loans,or fellowships, to help you reach your goal of becoming an rn?

i pray that you are able to find some means to help. all the best to you.