value of med/surg experience?

[shavsha]

I am a recent graduate. Because of the nursing shortage area hospitals are hiring right into specialty units - even ICU. Most of my classmates have hired into such units. Even though I was a top student I took a position on a med/surg floor (which I will start in a couple of weeks) because I want a good foundation. Now I am wondering if I squandered a good opportunity. Any thoughts?

[CaronRN58]

Congratulations on graduating and welcome to the wonderful world of nursing.

I think that you have made a wise decision to work on a med/surg unit.Med/surg nursing is "a specialty". You will learn much and hone your assessment skills.It prepares you for moving on to any other specialty and who knows, you might discover that you like it and will stay with it.

A little bit of advice from a med/surg nurse: ask questions and ask until you get answers.

You are in for a wonderful learning experience and a lot of hard, exhausting, rewarding work.

CaronRN58

[ClariceS]

Med/surg is definitely its own specialty. But you see such a wide range of patients that you build a firm foundation for adult assessment and basic interventions. All those critical thinking skills that they tried to cram into your brains will become so much a part of your nature with a couple years of med/surg nursing. Many nurses have had easier transitions into ICU's after med/surg experiences than if they had gone directly there after school. It also widens your options if you think of out of hospital nursing work as your focus isn't quite so narrow.

Congratulations! And good Luck!

[darby]

hi, you have made a good choice,all the assessment skills you will need for the future will be learned on this area,the best in the world of nursing is when you feel confident at the end of a shift i always tell myself i did what i knew was best for my patients, i am a 30 year veteran,congraulations on your wise choice,darby.

[PhantomRN]

You made the right choice, Med/surg is an excellent experience to have under your belt. I was an A student in school as well and I chose Med/surg for the diversity of the patient load.

You will be amazed at how much you will learn in a brief time.

Also, as someone else had stated Med/surg is its own specialty.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I agree. Going into a stress filled environment of a monitored unit isn't the best place to start building skills. On med/surg you will learn labs, how to give meds, refine venipuncture skills, learn time management. You will get to know the docs when *they* aren't all stressed out. After a year of so getting the post grad basics, you will be the perfect nurse to move into ICU etc. IF you still want to. You will be surprised how much you have learned.