I just got hired as a new grad on an ortho unit. Will this be helpful in the future or should I get out as soon as I can?

[Pairmyhair]

So basically I am a new grad and I've accepted the first position offered to me at the hospital I want to work at. I needed a job immediately and I really want to work at this hospital. The only new grad position they had was ortho so I took it. I am getting anxious as the day leading up to my first day approaches. Any advice to be successful as a new grad ortho nurse? Also, do you think that ortho will prepare me to become a med surg trauma/float nurse in the future? I know that I eventually want to do trauma/ER and maybe do float after I finish my time on Ortho. I am not sure if this is the right choice but I am hoping to get clarity from others.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Ortho floors are going to include orthopedic trauma patients (once they no longer need ICU level care/didn't need ICU level care) as well as total joint patients and other types of patients. Yes, this type of nursing will help you learn time management and other skills that will transfer to different types of units, plus these patients will likely be of all adult ages and have the other types of diseases patients of those age ranges have. Plan to stay there for at least a year as that is generally the length of time it takes to become comfortable as a nurse.

[pineappleupsidedowncake, BSN, RN]

I worked on an ortho floor for a year and it was my first RN job as well. Kind of like you, it was the first job offered to me and I was eager to start working. Honestly, I was never interested in ortho or even med-surge, but I did think it would be a good way to gain experience. We didn't really get any trauma patients because our ER wasn't a trauma center. I would get the occasional geriatric patient who tripped and fractured their hip but any real "trauma" patients would just be sent to a neighboring hospital. We were a part of a joint center so the majority of my patients were elective surgeries. So I think it really depends on the unit if you do want to do trauma. 

I do feel like I learned a lot though on the ortho floor. We occasionally got med-surge patients and even more so once COVID hit and elective surgeries were postponed. You definitely learn how to prioritize and get comfortable giving meds/communication with doctors, etc. A potential con of working on ortho floors, which you may have already heard, is that it can be physically exhausting. Lots of transfers and assists - and this can be very time consuming as well. And on top of that you constantly have patients pressing their call buttons for pain medications! I got burnt out after a year. Soooo I think there are pros and cons. I'm glad I had that experience because I do feel like I learned a lot but I would NOT willingly choose that path again. Not to discourage you though, because again I was never interested in this field of nursing and I was not happy with the management on my floor (I think good management is extremely important) 

Good luck! I also suggest helping other nurses and CNAs out right from the start when you have the time too, even if it isn't your patient - it establishes a good rapport and they should return the favor! Team work is VERY important on ortho floors. 

[AndriaG, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Inpatient ortho was my first job as an RN and it was a great first job. It was similar to med/surg and we had a lot of ICU step down patients, so I feel you will get well-rounded experience starting there.