Is it ok that I just don't like it?!

adpiRN · Nov 30, 2014

I don't believe all nurses need med surg.

In fact some nurses I know who started in med surg and hated it quit bedside nursing altogether which is sad.

I went straight to L&D and have no desire to ever work med surg.

Follow your passion!

Don't quit your current job until you find something new, but start applying now!

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

i went straight to cardiology critical care, and at 42+years i do not like med surg, i respect very much the nurses that can do it......it just is not for me :)

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 30, 2014

You don't need med-surg to be successful in specialty areas of nursing. There, I said it. Nevertheless, it is a great foundation for any area of nursing, especially critical care. For psych, too, it can be helpful. I've taken care of many psych patients in med-surg. Psych patients get sick too. Med-surg also teaches you organization skills that can be applied to all areas of nursing. I say, put in 6 months to a year to get that experience, and then start looking for a psych position or any other position that your heart desires.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

In nine years of nursing I have never worked at a general acute care hospital. During my nursing school clinicals I figured out that the hospital definitely was not where I wanted to be. So I would conclude that, yes, not everyone needs to enjoy or like hospital nursing.

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 30, 2014

I was always drawn to highly specialized areas and that is what I would attempt in my career. It worked out for me.

Why not try for what you are drawn to ... just go for it??

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 30, 2014

I am having this dilemma. All the older nurses I have talked to have told me that med-surg is essential. But how is working with sick (usually old) people going to help with sick premature babies (outside of time management skills, etc)? In fact, the specialty that I am gunning for likes new grads because they can mold them into the nurses they want; NICU is its own little world.

If you don't know what you want to do, go for med-surg. If you do know what you want, go for that. Not everyone can work in the med-surg and shouldn't. As someone who has been hospitalized for mental illness, I admire the psych nurses who took good care of me. We need more of them!

Libby1987 · Nov 30, 2014

I loathed med-surg as well, and that was under better working conditions (re patient ratios and acuity anyway) but every job I've had and every job I'm possibly interested in requires acute care experience. My acute care is so far back in my history but I've got recent patient care and mgmt experience that it's a non issue in anything but acute care at this point but that's with years of working experience.

I'm not familiar with the required experience for the fields you're interested in but keep in mind you will be competing with nurses who have that experience. If I had to choose between two or more candidates with all else being equal, I'd hire one with 1-2 yrs acute experience over the relatively new grad.

And if you end up wanting a position that does specifically require acute care experience, going back to get it won't be realistic, I'd rather have it permanently on my resume.

I would stick it out and try to look at it as a year of paid internship. And then get out.

Columnist · Nov 30, 2014

I moved your thread to the First Year after Licensure forum for more discussion. You might find some helpful suggestions in other threads in this forum

I wish you luck in finding the area of nursing that is a better fit for you.

bb007rn · Nov 30, 2014

I hated all the med-surg clinicals I had in nursing school.I have never worked med-surg as an RN. I precepted on a burn unit, first job was in ER (4 years) and then neuroICU... I was a "late-bloomer" RN, though, completing my degree at age 34, so I also had lots of life experience to bring to the table. Med-surg can provide a strong background to nurses in learning prioritization, clinical skills (assessments, etc) critical thinking, dealing with difficult people (patients, families, co-workers, etc) and situations. It may well be worth it to stick it out for 6 months to a year, just for the experience. (unless the environment is so toxic you just can't take it!)

And always keep an eye out for a better opportunity for yourself in the area of nursing that you are most passionate about, you never know what willl come up, be ready for it.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

Yes, it's ok. :yes: Med-surg is a very difficult specialty under the best of circumstances, and then you throw all that tasky stuff into the mix. It can give you a great foundation but is a specialty in its own right, and no I don't think a nurse needs to work there.

In fact I contacted one of my hospital's nurse recruiters a while back on behalf of my husband's boss's sister-in-law, who had just graduated but was having trouble finding a job. She wasn't one that was holding out for ICU or ED--she just wanted to work in a hospital. Anyway getting to my point, the recruiter advised me that they hire most of their new grads into psych or mother-baby. I sat with 3-4 new grad RNs in hospital orientation, who were going to the NICU; several in my ICU either started in ICU or transferred from the floor within the first year or two.

Recently as part of my public health class, we heard a lecture from a PHN from our county. While introducing herself, she said "I've worked here since I graduated. Most new nurses started their career in the hospital, but I did not. I'm a public health nurse through and through!"

Just some examples in favor of the idea that "No, you don't have to start your practice in med-surg."

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

I also hated my med surg clinicals and disagree that that's where new grads "have to start". I started in L&D and don't ever want to be anywhere else. So no, it's not bad or even unusual to dislike it. I think that the reason nursing schools say that it's needed is that med surg makes you utilize all of your skills, so you won't lose any of them. However if you want to work in a certain area, you won't miss them if you do lose them.

Where I am located, if you have your BSN, it's pretty easy to be hired as a school nurse if that is what you want. Rehab facilities, Drs offices and LTCs are also easy to get into (for ADNs as well as BSNs). I agree with the others who said to follow your passion. Decide what you want/where you want to be and start applying, but stay where you are until you get something else and give notice when you leave in order to keep your references in tact.