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

iPink, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

I never did med-surg and never will do it as long as I live. I started in critical care. In a month I wanted to quit, but nobody's hiring a nurse with less than a year experience. I had bills to pay so I stayed. In that time I got better and my confidence level improved. It paid off because after a year I got transferred to Postpartum at a Women's hospital, where a big part of what I do is patient education.

My advice is to continue working at your hospital until you get a job. Three months experience is not much so stay to build your skills. I haven't seen any stating one year of Medsurg. A year of any experience is better than three.

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Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 1, 2014

Hi! I'm pretty new to this board and new to nursing I suppose! I found out what I wanted to do in nursing school: I love school nursing, I love pysch, and I especially love working in the community with people that have disabilities. When I graduated, of course being a new nurse with no technical RN experience was a struggle and I started to get discouraged. A professor recommended me for a med-surge position on a women's floor in a hospital. I knew from nursing school that I did not like med-surge. But that being said I took the job because I know you "need" hospital experience. And I will say after 3 months I have learned a lot. But the absolute truth is, I don't like it. I'm growing to hate it actually. I feel like all I do is run from room to room changing IV fluids (for the love of God, make the beeping stop!), delivering pain medication (heaven for bid I am not there on THE DOT), and making sure I chart every little thing so that at least my own butt is protected. I spend no time with my patients. I don't have any kind of relationship with them. My co-workers are...different. And by different I mean rude. And half way thru the night I find myself thinking that I just, ya know, don't really care all that much. And yes, I do work night shift BUT I was on days for about 2 months before nights and let me tell you, it was worse. Even older and experienced nurses were running around in circles trying to catch up. It's not just me! Now I see why they have had 30 people quit in a 12 month period.
I have already started applying for other jobs; jobs in pediatrician's offices, surgical centers, rehab facilities, ect. I know everyone says you HAVE TO HAVE med-surge but honestly - do you really?! If you know where your heart lies (and you know where it clearly doesn't!) do you or should you really put yourself through that just because you're "supposed" to?!

No one HAS to have med-surge. Med/Surg, on the other hand, is a very good, solid basis to a nursing career. Staying in your first job for at least a year, preferably two is a better basis. No one loves their first job. (OK, almost no one.) But it's an opportunity to learn the basics, to develop technical skills, organizational and time management skills, delegation skills and communication skills that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your career. Do yourself a favor and put in the two years. Afterward, you'll be in a much better position to evaluate where your heart does and doesn't lie.

allnurses Guide · Dec 1, 2014

I worked in a pediatric version of med-surg (unit defined as 0-18 months with a wide variety of diagnoses). I think knowing I could handle 6 patients gave me a level of confidence I otherwise would not have. The issue there being time-management and multi-tasking. I really couldn't say that those factors are exclusive to an acute care setting.

Being responsible for all meds and treatments for 35+ residents in an LTC demands you learn those skills as well. The old adage generally applied in an era when new nurses could choose where they wanted to work. That is not an option for many people these days. That combined with the growth of specialty outpatient facilities where patients would have been in the hospital with longer stays in the past means that expectation will be less relevant.

Having said that OP I think you should stick it out for a year at least. 3 months is too soon to make an accurate evaluation of the work environment. Best wishes!

seanynjboy, BSN · Dec 1, 2014

I followed the whole "you need med surg after school is over" deal for 6 months....yeah...I hated it! I really never want to work in a hospital ever again. Kudos and much respect to the people that do it but it is just not for me

WITH THAT BEING SAID...I will say that I absorbed so much information while I did it. It did help a lot. I currently work as the nurse/office manager at a Drs Office and I LOVE IT. I am looking for a second job in a hospice somewhere.

All in all, med surg is a great place to get a good foundation, but it is not required. All I can say is that it helped.

Good luck!

Farawyn · Dec 1, 2014

I don't know, it helped me. I use Med Surg everywhere.

*I* needed it, glad I have it.