Jack of all trades nurse

[al3x117, RN, EMT-B]

I don't want to specialize in anything, to be honest. I want a nursing job where I will see and do everything. Just wanting to get my feet wet. What areas of nursing are the best for this type of learning environment?

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Med-Surg. YOu'll see a lot of different things, and every patient is going to be different, even if they have the same diagnosis.

I worked for a critical access hospital and we got everything from med-surg/ortho/tele/psych and I learned a lot. No one patient is the same.

I then worked for a teaching hospital on the Onc/Palliative unit (with med-surg overflow) and again, not a single patient was the same, even with same diagnosis.

I have never worked on a unit or in the ED so I can't say what they are like. I'm sure others will chime in. I wish you all the best on your journey. And I hope you find a unit that you are happy on.!

[JBudd, MSN]

Medsurg for sure. See everything, but have patients long enough to get to know them a bit.

ER, we see a little of everything, but don't have the same patients for very long a time.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

"Acute" long-term acute care. Med/surg with vents, drips and so much more, and having patients long enough to learn them inside out!

[offlabel]

Seeing and doing "everything" is mutually exclusive of not specializing in anything. Many specialties require significant time and commitment to have any meaningful experience. As mentioned above, a med/surg unit is probably where your bar is set, but you'll hardly see and do "everything" there.

[Accolay]

Float Pool

[oops I bradyed again]

There's probably not one position where you will get to see and do everything, but I think float pool and the ED will give you the most variety! Our medicine unit also gets a good mixture of diagnoses with some rare cases.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Med-surg. There will be a good mix of everything, and you will learn to how to prioritize, organize, and develop technical skills, like becoming proficient at IV starts, N/G tubes, chest tubes, etc. (I wouldn't suggest a float position because you would generally be expected to function independently in areas you have no experience in.) I also wouldn't suggest ER, because you will see a lot of "clinic" patients, plus once they are stabilized and/or triaged, they move on to different areas and you won't be "following" them. For instance, you wouldn't be following surgical patients in the ER.

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

"Acute" long-term acute care. Med/surg with vents, drips and so much more, and having patients long enough to learn them inside out!

Definitely. I saw more diverse and complex issues while working the LTAC than anywhere else I ever worked.

[cleback]

Float Pool

Yep. But not for new grads. Medsurg (or ICU) for new grads.

[Crush]

Part time in med-surg and part time in another area of choice or full time med-surg. Overall I think med-surg is best especially if one is a newer grad to see more variety and hone in on skills. That experience can help you decide what direction you want your nursing career to go.

[brownbook]

My first job as a new grad was in a float pool. I and my patients survived my first year as a green as grass nurse and I have floated ever since for 31 years. Jack of all trades, master of none describes me.

Even when there was not an official float pool I always volunteered to float when census required it. When I became per diem I was called in to work and benefited staff was sent home because they refused to float.

I love floating. You will be exposed to a lot of different areas of the hospital.