If med-surg floor is NOT for me, what else??

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

I recently started out on a med-surg floor as a new grad and within a week I knew it was NOT going to work. I highly respect those who can do it, but I felt so paralyzed with fear, discomfort and apprehension.. I just knew in my heart that it wasn't going to work and it was not a good fit for me. The ratio was going to be 8-1 and having even four patients seemed overwhelming! I am now thinking that I might be happier in an internship such as NICU or L&D, or even ICU. Is there any hope for me? Or if I felt too overwhelmed with med-surg will it pretty much be the same anywhere in the hospital?

[bobber]

I am not a huge fan of Med-Surg either, but at least those patients are fairly healthy compared to NICU eww children...much small margin for error.

I thing a lot of new nurses are placed in Med-surg because the chances of harm reaching the patients is much less. Plus, it allows a new nurse to focus on the all important time management.

What is to say L&D or NICU may feel just as bad plus those patients are more acute. Why not give it six months and if you feel the same way bolt for the first escape exit.

Even in an ICU with two patients you can still get VERY overwhelmed.

Hope you find your way!!!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

juana, the first year is, simply, a terrifying time. Hang in. DOesn't amtter if you're in ICU or LTC, it's scary.

[delilas]

The first year will be terrifying no matter where you go.

L&D and ICU very rarely hire new grads...the hospitals here won't even do interns in those areas - if yours does, count yourself incredibly lucky. Most near here (central ohio) require minimum 1 year experience, usually MedSurg, to work in ICU, and L&D takes even more.

Take a deep breath, and give it your best shot. You know your stuff, you have your license, put in your year in the trenches and you'll be a better nurse for it.

[Zaphod, BSN, RN]

Correct. It is called "reality shock" of nursing. No matter where, you will feel like you want to escape and runs as far as you can. Your body will adapt, your mind will get quicker and you will learn very valuable skills. Do not quit your job now!!!You will regret it. In a year you can go to a different unit. I promise you, Ive been where you are and the only thing that kept me from becoming total psych was my family. Hang in there and post often:)

[fsaav]

I'm still a student, but I just completed an externship on a med-surg floor and am doing my leadership on a different med-surg floor. I requested both of them because I know how overwhelming and super busy they can be and I feel like I would much rather start out there, get used to that, and then if I move anywhere else I can carry those skills with me to cope better.

I'd much rather go that route than the opposite: I see nurses pulled to my floor from other areas all the time who have never worked med-surg and they say how they could never do it every day. They're used to seeing basically the same kind of patient with the same kind of problem, which is definitely not how it is on med-surg.

I think med-surg a wonderful way to build a foundation right out of school, and even though it may be terrifying at first, the experience you have will be priceless. Our team of patients almost always have completely different admitting diagnoses, different needs, and true, the ratios can be high and it can be very busy, but eventually you will get more efficient and more confident and it won't be such paralyzing fear anymore.

Whatever decision you make, good luck to you

[shiccy]

It's a known fact that it takes two years to get comfortable with where you're at. It will take two years after each move you make as well. Getting your feet wet with AT LEAST a few years in med-surg is sometimes an absolute MUST before a company would allow you to move to ICU.

This being said, you need to give it a chance. You'll probably not feel differently about moving to an ICU, but you'll have the experience you'll need to do well.

Also the 'feeling of dread, hating your job, describing 'depression', not sleeping well, having anxiety issues, etc were ALL part of the territory w/ me and my floor up until about that 2 year mark... then all of a sudden *snap* it went away.

[Bionic Woman]

Also the 'feeling of dread, hating your job, describing 'depression', not sleeping well, having anxiety issues, etc were ALL part of the territory w/ me and my floor up until about that 2 year mark... then all of a sudden *snap* it went away.

So good to read that there is hope!

[Lizzie21]

I feel your pain too about med/surg! I am a new grad and I just got hired onto the Neuro Unit at my hospital. I did my first day yesterday and felt so overwhelmed. I just couldn't keep up with my preceptor and cried all the way home when I was done.

I did my senior clinical on a Mom/Baby floor and LOVED IT. That's where I wanted to start out in as a new grad, but none of the hospitals in Colorado had any positions for it. Plus the new grad situation here is very tough. It's hard to get a job here period. Most of my friends do not have jobs either. So I feel good that I got a job, but not sure if I like it or not.

I'm going to tough it out for at least 6 months and see if I like it or not.

[azilliRN]

With todays economy being bleak, I think you should stick to it for at least year. After a year you will have some experience and you can find your place in nursing that will make you happy. It is the same for me as I don't like working in a clinic -the hours are great but the work is not what I thought it would be. However, I have learned to make the most of it in the meantime. It isn't fun working when you aren't happy where you are but try and a look on the postive side (hard to do sometimes) learn all you can and in the meantime keep searching for other opportunities and I am sure a door will open for you.

I live in Albuquerque, NM and there aren't many jobs to choose from out here either but I look on different hospital websites to see what is out there. I too am not thrilled where I work (been an RN for 7 months now) but I had no choice - couldn't be picky and I took what came my way. Med/Sug was my first choice but they werent' hiring new grads when I applied last December. Now I am beginning to think that Med/Surg is not for me after what I have read here. I've been thinking about looking into day surgery (this is the PACU?) because everyone works as a team. At least this is what I noticed while I was waiting to be taken in to surgery to have my gallbladder taken out in June. Everyone was friendly and curteous with one another, including the Dr's. Oh well, that is my two cents worth for the time being....good luck in your job hunt - hope you find somewhere where you will be happy.

[Noel13]

I would like to specialize in ICU, but all the jobs I've found requires ICU experience :s I only have 2 years of med-surge [btw did't enjoy at all]...what now? I do not want to get stuck in an area that never like [but I made it because is the basics] ....

[LovemykittyRN]

Even though I have been a RN for 26 years, I can still relate to the fears you are experiencing with your first position. Like many of the other comments already given, I agree you really get your skills down and become much more knowledgeable by working on a med-surg unit for a couple of years out of school.

Are there other new grads on your unit? Do you have a preceptor? Have you identified any one who can be a support person for you? I would think that you would be in an orientation program for several weeks initially but, perhaps, you are not.

Discuss your fears and concerns with your head nurse, preceptor, or the inservice department. I'm sure you are not the only new grad feeling overwhelmed in the read world of nursing, but your co-workers and supervisors can help you only if they know how you feel. Try to stick with it - you will begin seeing a gradual increase in your self-confidence as the weeks go by. Becoming well grounded on a medical surgical floor will help you to be able to function better in any specialty you may decide to go into. If, after a couple of years, you are unhappy on a med-surg unit, they are hundreds of different types of nursing jobs out there.

When I started at a 1500 bed hospital in South Carolina upon graduating from a college in another state, my six-week orientation ended after the third day because the floor was so short-staffed they couldn't afford to orient us any longer. All three of us on my unit (65 bed surgical) were new grads. We had no ward secretary, no LPNs, and no nursing assistants. Because I was so overwhelmed and fearful, after about three months, I left that hospital and went to another hospital in the area, an excellent hospital but one that was quite a bit smaller. There, I had other nurses who were willing to help me get adjusted to the real world. One evening a head nurse from another surgical unit made my med pass/assessment pass with me and gave me tips on how to handle things. It was her understanding, her patience, and her organizational skills that really helped me to get going. I've thought of her occassionally through the years and realized how helpful that one med pass she made with me helped me.

Don't give up just yet. There are people who are able to help you. I wish I could help you. I always enjoyed working with new grads, especially the ones who lacked confidence. I enjoyed helping them to learn and to increase their confidence.