I'm going to start working in med/surg..help!

SWFlorida · Aug 7, 2005

Make a vow to learn something new everyday. Even if that "something new" is to "never do that again"

I've been a nurse for 22 years and look back on those med surg days with fondness. You gain your intuition and observational skills on med surg as well as how to prioritize and organize your time. Keep a diary for your first two years and just jot down your thoughts and observations. In years to come an old nurse (you) will read that book with fondness.

jillyk*rn · Aug 7, 2005

:) when i was a gn (am i showing my age :crying2: ) you had to have a year of med-surg before you could work anywhere else.

the nurses today wouldn't want to hear this - but that was the best. you learn everything - and itis a great stepping stone to other departments.remember, you have experience and you are not new. the first thing to do is learn to prioritze. once you have that worked out - and know your routine (not that anything on a med-surg floor is routine :rotfl: ) - you will be fine.

don't worry :icon_hug: you'll be great.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2005

Well,I just got hired working at Sharp Grossmont Hospital,working in med/surg
Starting in a couple weeks....and I am soooo excited,but then soooo nervous...I have never worked in a hospital before,only 2 convalescents and a retirement home(for many years)...so this is going to be very different...can someone please give me some encouragement...words of wisdom,etc......thanks. :)

OMGosh Nancy I live pretty close to Sharp Grossmont Hospital!(I don't want to name the exact city but suffice it to say it is the San Diego area ) Nice new facility they just built! I have read that their er/trauma is top notch. I was just checking their jobs on-line yesterday. They always have oenings for new grads. As soon as I"m finished with my anat/phys II and micro next semester at Grossmont College I'm going to go ROP for CNA and plan to work there while I'm on the wait list for nursing school! I was hoping they would help pay my tuition. Couldn't hurt to check it out. Maybe we will be working together! I'm so excited for you! :)

Nancy428 · Aug 7, 2005

OMGosh Nancy I live pretty close to Sharp Grossmont Hospital!(I don't want to name the exact city but suffice it to say it is the San Diego area ) Nice new facility they just built! I have read that their er/trauma is top notch. I was just checking their jobs on-line yesterday. They always have oenings for new grads. As soon as I"m finished with my anat/phys II and micro next semester at Grossmont College I'm going to go ROP for CNA and plan to work there while I'm on the wait list for nursing school! I was hoping they would help pay my tuition. Couldn't hurt to check it out. Maybe we will be working together! I'm so excited for you! :)

Thanks..I am excited too...but a bit nervous..haven't been in this kind of work environment before..but I am eager to learn.I am an ex-CNA...license expired,but am planning to go back and get my CNA(ROP),and then take the LVN course,and then probably go for my RN.I think I stayed in the retirement environment for too long.Wish me luck! :)

Nancy428 · Aug 7, 2005

:) when i was a gn (am i showing my age ) you had to have a year of med-surg before you could work anywhere else.
the nurses today wouldn't want to hear this - but that was the best. you learn everything - and itis a great stepping stone to other departments.remember, you have experience and you are not new. the first thing to do is learn to prioritze. once you have that worked out - and know your routine (not that anything on a med-surg floor is routine :rotfl: ) - you will be fine.
don't worry :icon_hug: you'll be great.

thanks..i needed that :)

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Aug 8, 2005

Thanks..I am excited too...but a bit nervous..haven't been in this kind of work environment before..but I am eager to learn.I am an ex-CNA...license expired,but am planning to go back and get my CNA(ROP),and then take the LVN course,and then probably go for my RN.I think I stayed in the retirement environment for too long.Wish me luck! :)

Nancy, I have a friend who is an LVN and went thru the ROP program in Santee and she was a medical assistant. She talked them out of having to get her CNA first and they said ok but did she know how to swaddle a baby? Well she didnt and they showed her and let her in the LVN program. I'm just saying that since you had your CNA and are experienced you could just go for the LVN program if you talk to someone there about it. But you need to apply this year to get in next year. I understand that's how it works. I might be wrong so please call them up. If you miss the deadline then you have to wait another year. The cutoff is November but with so many people applying I wouldn't wait that long as the spaces fill up. Wow I'm practically jumping up and down for you! hehe :chuckle

Please let me know what you do next ok? And keep us updated on how your job at Grossmont Hospital is coming along and is it a great place to work etc. I'll be looking for your posts!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2005

Hang on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Good luck!!!

Nancy428 · Aug 8, 2005

Nancy, I have a friend who is an LVN and went thru the ROP program in Santee and she was a medical assistant. She talked them out of having to get her CNA first and they said ok but did she know how to swaddle a baby? Well she didnt and they showed her and let her in the LVN program. I'm just saying that since you had your CNA and are experienced you could just go for the LVN program if you talk to someone there about it. But you need to apply this year to get in next year. I understand that's how it works. I might be wrong so please call them up. If you miss the deadline then you have to wait another year. The cutoff is November but with so many people applying I wouldn't wait that long as the spaces fill up. Wow I'm practically jumping up and down for you! hehe :chuckle
Please let me know what you do next ok? And keep us updated on how your job at Grossmont Hospital is coming along and is it a great place to work etc. I'll be looking for your posts!

Thanks so much..I am taking healthcare essentials this month(ROP),and then go from there.I will keep you updated....wow.....it's funny how things happen.

Thanks to all of you for all of your replies :)

sydie · Aug 8, 2005

I had my second son at Grossmont. I have heard great things about the hospital and plan on applying there after graduation. Good luck... I hope it turns out to be a wonderful experience!

kenheather · Aug 8, 2005

Well,I just got hired working at Sharp Grossmont Hospital,working in med/surg
Starting in a couple weeks....and I am soooo excited,but then soooo nervous...I have never worked in a hospital before,only 2 convalescents and a retirement home(for many years)...so this is going to be very different...can someone please give me some encouragement...words of wisdom,etc......thanks. :)

I used to work at Sharp Grossmont in the lab! Great hospital, and great staff. The only gripe I had about the place was an arrogant ED Dr. whom I avoided like the plague (no names!). Good luck and I'm sure you'll love it there!

ZZTopRN, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2005

I used to work at Sharp Grossmont in the lab! Great hospital, and great staff. The only gripe I had about the place was an arrogant ED Dr. whom I avoided like the plague (no names!). Good luck and I'm sure you'll love it there!

I am going to take my RN refresher course through Grossmont Health Occupations August 29th in Santee. Then I will have my clinicals at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. I got my CPR certification from a lady in Santee that has worked a long time teaching there. She said good things about the program and I hear that they do hire graduates of the refresher course through the hospital, that is if you are going as a refresher nurse. I recently had an endoscopy at one of the other Sharp hospitals and one of the nurses said it is a great course, so I imagine that probably goes along with the rest of the hospital. Good luck.

I've been out over 10 years so I'm really looking forward to the refresher. I had let my license lapse and had to study to take the NCLEX again and that really peaked my interest again, so I guess that's why I'm looking forward to the refresher course.

Anymore info on Grossmont, please post!! I only want to work part-time, but I think it is a good hospital as I have been there once in the ER.