Final Clinical Placement - am I screwed for a job?

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Hi All,

I am in the process of finishing a 2 year BSN accelerated program for prior degree holders. I graduate April 15 :). Our last clincial placement runs for 10 weeks starting at the beginning of Feb. We had a choice of one of three placements out of med/surg, community, psych, peds and maternity. I put down maternity, med/surg and psych as my three choices, and was assigned psych. So basically what this means is that I will be spending the last 10 weeks working in a psych unit of a major hospital, which is ok, but I want to work in Women's health involving gyn or women's oncology after graduation, something like this once I'm done. I am worried that my med/surg skills are going to be NON existant because the last time I was on a med surg unit was last Feb. Part of the problem with my school is that they have had a very had time finding final preceptors for ALL areas. I never thought I would end up with psych but I did, and even now, they still don't have a preceptor in this area for me. Any how, what does this mean when I am a graduate nurse in April. Will I be less desirable for employment because med surg wasn't my final placement if I put my applications in on those types of units.I'm really really worried.

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I don't have any advice, but I've heard that placements are often limited for BSN students because they must be paired up with a BSN nurse on the floor.. and at some facilities there's not always that many BSNs who ARE working on the floor.

Good luck, and congrats on your upcoming graduation! :)

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Are you going to be working on an inpatient unit? I think that with psych (I had worked in a continuing day treatment center at a hospital), you will probably hone your assessment skills. While you are dealing with patients with psychiatric ailments, many will also be suffering from some physiological difficulties and side effects from the medications used to help them with their psychological issues.

Now, I am not a nurse (I was a medical secretary), my supervisor was and he had to keep his assessment skills fresh because there were at times medical emergencies.

Plus, when you do work in the area that you want to...you will find patients that are having emotional and mental difficulties as well as physiological difficulties...it may give you an edge to help them that you might not already have.

Kris

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Thanks to both of you! I think the BSN thing is a huge huge problem in our area, we are also competing with another school with students doing final placements at the same time as us who also need to find BSN preceptors. I know in other areas, students get to have two final placements so they could chose both psych and med/surg. Our school has really cracked down, and are only allowing us the one area, I guess to switch us around is just too much of problem for them, which, really puts us at a disadvantage. Kris to answer your question, I am in a inpatient unit, and so it will be ok I am sure. During my psych rotation last summer, I did have patients who needed regular Vital Sign monitoring for various health problems, other than their psychiatric problems. And the med monitoring is huge in psych, which will also be good. I guess it is the wounds, dressings, NG tubes, Cath's, those things that I want more practice in. I did have an excellent Med rotation on a neuro unit and learned alot and was able to practice all my skills, except for IV's of course. It is just that I won't be able to hone these types of skills prior to seeking employment. I know that most med/surg units that hire new grads do offer a 12 day orientation program whereby they mentor and watch what you do but lets face it, 12 days really isnt alot! I know my friends in Community who are doing the STD clinics, etc, are worried about not using the skills I mentioned either. Part of it is a confidence thing to, you want to feel confident in your skills. Hopefully I'll be able to get a variety of cases and get practice in some areas. Thanks again.

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Specializes in Oncology, Research.

You will get much better experience than you now realize. I work on a neuro med-surg floor. Over a quarter of our patients have major psych issues. You will develop the all-important interpersonal skills needed for these situations in your capstone. You can catch up when it comes to learning hands-on nursing skills. No need to worry!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

I agree with above. Currently work in ortho-neuro med surg, but have plenty of folks who present with psych issues. You'll see all types on the medical/med-surg floors... adjustment issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, personality disorders, schizophrenia...you name it! Your psych skills will come into play. I was a psych nurse for 10 years, outpt and inpt. You will have no problem.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

It doesn't matter as long as you've fulfilled your state's requirements for clinical hours. I wouldn't worry about your med/surg skills, because you will be honing those during your orientation.

You'll do fine.

BTW, have you applied for a job yet? I'm interviewing this month for a position and I don't graduate until December. I would definitely start your job hunt before you graduate.

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Specializes in CICu, ICU, med-surg.
BTW, have you applied for a job yet? I'm interviewing this month for a position and I don't graduate until December. I would definitely start your job hunt before you graduate.

Wow, you're interviewing already? I graduate in April and most of the recruiters I've spoken to have told me that I don't need to apply until February or March.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
Wow, you're interviewing already? I graduate in April and most of the recruiters I've spoken to have told me that I don't need to apply until February or March.

The hospital that is paying for my school and that I currently work at gives scholarship holders first crack at the internships. So, I'll be interviewing this month. Than whatever's left will be offered to outsiders. Outsiders, that sounds terrible. :rolleyes:

Right now I'm trying to decide between pediatric and adult ICU. I want to sound really sure of myself in the interview, although I'm not.

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Specializes in CICu, ICU, med-surg.
Right now I'm trying to decide between pediatric and adult ICU. I want to sound really sure of myself in the interview, although I'm not.

I know how you feel! A recruiter asked me last week what area of nursing I want to work in. I had a really hard time coming up with an answer. Up to this point, I've always told people "I'm open to anything." Now with school ending in four months, it's time for me to make a decision! YIKES!

Good luck with your interview!

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