How do you keep your Med/Surg Skills Fresh?

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.

As I'm starting and enjoying my L&D orientation (so far), I'm faced with having to be tested on 'med-surgy' clinical scenarios like dysrhtymia strips, GI disorders, MIs, etc.

I'm actually enjoying the scenarios (so far), because I realize I know more than I thought I did and it's kind of fun. But knowing me, this knowlegde will be gone in a year, maybe even six months, if I don't work with these types of patients.

I have NO desire to become a med/surg nurse (God bless those who do it), however I do want have a clue on non-OB clinical matters during my career.

Any suggestions? Should I subscribe to a journal? If so, which one? Or should I consider getting an pt clinic job down the line?

What do you do to maintain your med/surg knowledge and/or skills?

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Specializes in LDRP.

I work high risk OB and antepartum and have no issues w/ keeping my M/S skills fresh. I would say look for opportuinities to do things outside obstetric care on your unit--or you could occasionally float to a M/S unit if you are BRAVE--I know nurses who do this and like it! Good luck!

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

Each area of nursing is so specialized that it is impossible for a nurse to know everything there is to know about everything. I'm grateful there are people out there like you who will work in OB (I hate the place!). If you love OB and find that it is your "niche" I would suggest becoming as proficient as possible in that area first. There is "crossover" between med/surg and OB and many of the skills that you learn in OB will be beneficial to you if you choose med/surg down the road. Although floating to med/surg is a great idea I would suggest waiting until you feel a little more comfortable in OB first--maybe in about 6-12 months.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I dunno about everybody else, but we have enough folks with medical issues and/or pregnant surgical patients that I feel more or less ok with med/surg skills.

I agree that if you want to get/keep your m/s skills fresh otherwise, you might volunteer to do as many m/s things on your floor as possible. If there's a GYN patient, volunteer to take her, or if yours is a floor that takes postpartum complications (DVT or endometritis, for example), volunteer to take those pts. They will be more m/s than the others.

Kudos to you for wanting this - not everyone does. :D

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Speaking of med/surg.... I am an ADN student, graduating in December! I am in my OB clinicals right now and I LOVE IT!!! It feels like it's perfect for me and just what I want. I feel a PULL towards it! I plan on doing my preceptorship there in the fall. Anyway, I was talking to a couple people and one person told me that I should go right into Mother/Baby if I want and another person told me to start off on Med/Surg to "get the experience." I don't want to go into OB feeling like I'm in over my head and I also don't want to go into Med/Surg because I know I'll hate it (i work as a PCT on a busy med/surg floor and I see what the RNs go through). Can anybody give me any advice on this?

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Specializes in geriatrics, L&D, newborns.

I am one of those nurses who believe it is best to get a year or so of med-surg experience before going to a specialty area. But I work with nurses who have never done anything other than OB. I sometimes will work on a med-surg floor and it helps to keep up my skills.

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.
Speaking of med/surg.... I am an ADN student, graduating in December! I am in my OB clinicals right now and I LOVE IT!!! It feels like it's perfect for me and just what I want. I feel a PULL towards it! I plan on doing my preceptorship there in the fall. Anyway, I was talking to a couple people and one person told me that I should go right into Mother/Baby if I want and another person told me to start off on Med/Surg to "get the experience." I don't want to go into OB feeling like I'm in over my head and I also don't want to go into Med/Surg because I know I'll hate it (i work as a PCT on a busy med/surg floor and I see what the RNs go through). Can anybody give me any advice on this?

Sigh, to be young :wink2: Because you have time on your side, I'd probably go into Mother/Baby first.

I'm in my mid-thirties and because a) I'm on a midwifery track and b) I a'int getting any younger, I decided to do go with my busy L and D floor, but it was a decision that I struggled with.

I 100% respect the nurses who think one should get Med/Surg experience first. It really isn't a bad idea, BUT like you, I did my externship on a medical floor and I HATED it. I was trying to be open to the experience, but it just confirmed what I already knew.

I say to go with your gut. My gut lead me towards L&D. If you haven't already, secure your preceptorship as SOON as possible. That experience will give you valuable insight.

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I am one of those nurses who believe it is best to get a year or so of med-surg experience before going to a specialty area. But I work with nurses who have never done anything other than OB. I sometimes will work on a med-surg floor and it helps to keep up my skills.

thanks.. that's a good idea. =)

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Sigh, to be young :wink2: Because you have time on your side, I'd probably go into Mother/Baby first.

I'm in my mid-thirties and because a) I'm on a midwifery track and b) I a'int getting any younger, I decided to do go with my busy L and D floor, but it was a decision that I struggled with.

I 100% respect the nurses who think one should get Med/Surg experience first. It really isn't a bad idea, BUT like you, I did my externship on a medical floor and I HATED it. I was trying to be open to the experience, but it just confirmed what I already knew.

I say to go with your gut. My gut lead me towards L&D. If you haven't already, secure your preceptorship as SOON as possible. That experience will give you valuable insight.

THANK YOU for the encouragement. I am just dreading working on the busy med/surg floor I work on as a PCT. I just cannot picture myself working there. I find JOY and get excited to go work on a post-partum unit. I followed a nurse there for 12 hours last week and she was so great and if I could get a preceptor like her, I'd be set. I mean, they will know that I am a new grad with no other nursing experience and not everyone started in Med/Surg. I met a girl last week who graduated last August and just started on a L&D unit and she's doing great! :nurse:

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Specializes in Mother/Baby.

I graduated from nursing school in May of 2007 and passed my boards right away. My first job out of school was in Mother/Baby, where I currently work part time nights. I love what I do, but I feel that I would have benefited from doing a year of Med/Surg first. The other nurses are constantly making comments to us "NewBees" as they call us, that we should have had med/surg first. I think they feel that we haven't "paid our dues" since Mother/Baby is a specialty unit, and some wait years to go there.

My advice is to try to get into a teaching hospital. Many of them will let you rotate for a year, and then choose your specialty. By then, you will have some confidence and some experience behind you. On Mother/Baby, you often have patients with secondary problems like diabetes or cardiac issues. This can be scary if you have no experience.

I started my career later in life and I knew going into nursing that I wanted to be involved with women's health issues, especially OB. I don't see myself working in a hospital for more than a few years, but my experience has been a good one. If you're fortunate enough to get a job in this area, jump on it, but keep your options open.:nurse:

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I graduated from nursing school in May of 2007 and passed my boards right away. My first job out of school was in Mother/Baby, where I currently work part time nights. I love what I do, but I feel that I would have benefited from doing a year of Med/Surg first. The other nurses are constantly making comments to us "NewBees" as they call us, that we should have had med/surg first. I think they feel that we haven't "paid our dues" since Mother/Baby is a specialty unit, and some wait years to go there.

My advice is to try to get into a teaching hospital. Many of them will let you rotate for a year, and then choose your specialty. By then, you will have some confidence and some experience behind you. On Mother/Baby, you often have patients with secondary problems like diabetes or cardiac issues. This can be scary if you have no experience.

I started my career later in life and I knew going into nursing that I wanted to be involved with women's health issues, especially OB. I don't see myself working in a hospital for more than a few years, but my experience has been a good one. If you're fortunate enough to get a job in this area, jump on it, but keep your options open.:nurse:

:heartbeat THANK YOU for your reply. That's what my OB teacher said... that I may have some moms with some medical problems that I will better know how to deal with if I have some med/surg experience. I definitely think that I will apply to a Mother/Baby unit first but if that isn't looking good I am also going to keep my options open and just get what I can get! Sometimes I feel like this :no:!!! But I'm sure everything will work out for the best. =)

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Just an update... I applied to the three area hospitals' Birth Care Centers and they ALL want experience/don't take new grads. Very frustrating. :banghead:

So I got a job where I currently work as a tech... on a VERY busy med/surg floor. I'm excited for my first nursing job but also TERRIFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

I'm sure I'll learn soooooooo much but also feel like I'll be way in over my head. Oh well, here goes nothing! :)

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