Life after Med/Surg

[LINUS]

I am a new grad and finishing the fourth month into my nursing career. I can honestly say I hate my job. I hate the chaos, I hate the stress, I hate crying the minute I walk into the door just because of sheer terror of what might happen during the next twelve hours. I hate that we get so many different conditions/diagnosis on our floor that I can't retain how to do anything or protocols for each patient. I've heard that people either love or hate med/surg, so I'm hoping that's all there is too it-- what I mean is, I hope all of nursing is not like this. I hope I didn't make the wrong decision when I went through nursing school. I just don't learn very well in such chaos. I'm one of those people that like monotony-- same thing over and over-- because then at least I can get a routine and feel confident. Right now I just feel very incompetent. I feel like a cop-out, but I'm ready to march into my manager's office and tell her it's just not working out and hoping she'll let me transfer, even though my six months isn't up yet.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what department I might be better suited for? I thought about OB or Post Partum. I did well in school there, and I'm totally fascinated by the whole process of pregnancy. I also thought about rehab. I just wonder if I'll be able to handle ANY type of nursing.

[inna]

LINUS,

It is you who best knows where your interest and heart of nursing is. It's really a torture to go on a med/surg floor when on the first place you hated it and just doing it for the sake of fulfilling the "1 yr base of nursing skills". I, too will soon leave my floor (I just had my 1yr M/S experience...what a relief!!!) after realizing that I've had enough of the stress of working like a slave in a jungle like atmosphere..

I don't blame the newly grads for feeling this way. As I noticed, too... most of the nurses working in this facilities nowadays are the travellers, per diems and agencies nurses who are really getting paid much, much better than the full-timers...

I suggest you apply in other hospitals,too. There's a lot of specialty areas hiring new grads out there.. ALL THE BEST TO YOU!

[rileygrl11, BSN, RN]

The great thing about being a nurse right now is being able to go out and find a new job within the next 24 hours. Look at other facilities if it comes to that. Meanwhile, talk to your nurse mgr. Also, talk to personnel about your likes/dislikes -- they can give you advice on units you may or may not like. I am so sorry that you are having this experience. Good luck!

[susanmary]

If you are committed to staying -- then talk to your manager about an extended orientation. And never feel as if you are bothering your peers with questions. A strong nursing department/leadership will individualize orientation & put the time into orientees so that they will get a solid foundation. That being said, shadow any position you are interested in -- perhaps during various shifts -- so that you can get a "snapshot" of what the floor is like.

You are in control of your career -- you may need to make multiple moves to gain the "right" fit -- and often the "right" fit changes depending on YOUR personal needs.