Maybe it was a big mistake to be a nurse :(

iwanna · Aug 12, 2008

I totally agree with Flying Scott.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2008

Like you I hated med surg in school so I didn't go there! I chose Geri-Psych in a hospital unit and have been there since my nsg school preceptorship. I love it.

Hopefully there is one in your area?

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 12, 2008

i am very sorry you are having a crappy time in your life right now. try and make the best and get thru it. i have totally heard that you need the 2 yrs of med-surg, but i have seen sooooo many ppl that havnt done that at all. look around, ask around and try and find something maybe clinical or something. its more phone triage than anything mostly, but you never know!

I am not trying to be demeaning or rude, but maybe if you want that psych job, try a few assertiveness classes and let them know your doing that to get there. heck, maybe they would know where to send you if thats what they feel about you being there.

gl ! really! you have no choice but to find a niche in this field, there is SOO much avaliable to you, you just have to find it! i wish you all the warm wishes in the world!

-H-RN

NewYorkGirl · Aug 12, 2008

She clearly thinks that you, as a person, are far more important than the money invested in your orientation and the problem of having to replace you. Be glad that you have had the experience of working under such a person. They are few and far between.

Yes, I am glad about that!

AJL_91 · Aug 12, 2008

The advice "you need a year of Med-Surg" is so outdated! I heard the same thing from almost every one of my nursing instructors. I spent six miserable years in Med-Surg because I listened to them (thinking I would only do one year) then I got 'stuck' there. It was soooo hard to break into a new nursing specialty without having any experience in it. During my new grad hospital orientation, I was sitting next to other new nurses who were going straight into the ICUs. I remember thinking, 'why didn't I do that?' It's one of my biggest regrets to this day.

I eventually wound up where I wanted to be in the first place; the Neonatal ICU. But I had to do a lot of legwork over the course of a couple of years. I put out tons of resumes, went on many interviews and really had to 'sell' myself as someone who could excel in a completely different specialty.

So, make a clean break now and go where your heart leads you...you won't be sorry! Nursing is really a wonderful profession. There are so many areas to explore. Med/Surg just isn't a good fit for you and that's okay. Good luck!!

NewYorkGirl · Aug 12, 2008

During my new grad hospital orientation, I was sitting next to other new nurses who were going straight into the ICUs. I remember thinking, 'why didn't I do that?' It's one of my biggest regrets to this day.

You're so right! At my hospital where I'm on orientation now on med-surg, there's a woman who's been an RN for three years who wanted to be an OR nurse, but they said they only hire experienced OR nurses for that. But one of the brand new grads got hired straight into OR!! Crazy.

MimismomRN · Aug 13, 2008

I'm with you. I have worked med surg as an LVN for 2 1/2 years and am going into 3rd semester of the RN program. I am 50 and don't think I can physically do floor nursing much longer. The stress is tremendous, the patient load is unmanageable and I feel the same way it is hard to get myself to that job every day. I never sleep the night before because of the stress I know I will endure. Sometimes I'm not even sure I want to get my RN anymore. I hope there is somewhere else for me besides med surg. But they always say you must do one year med/surg to get hired anywhere. That scares me. I feel like the job is physically draining the life out of me. I don't have the time to spend with my patients that they deserve because I am always running from one crisis to another or have so many meds to pass, dressings to do, insulins to give. I hope there is another area to start in besides med/surg once I get my RN or I think I may have gone through this for what??? Med surg is really tough, especially at 50 or older. :eek: :sniff: :monkeydance::smackingf:yeahthat:

RNSC · Aug 13, 2008

I'm with you. I have worked med surg as an LVN for 2 1/2 years and am going into 3rd semester of the RN program. I am 50 and don't think I can physically do floor nursing much longer. The stress is tremendous, the patient load is unmanageable and I feel the same way it is hard to get myself to that job every day. I never sleep the night before because of the stress I know I will endure. Sometimes I'm not even sure I want to get my RN anymore. I hope there is somewhere else for me besides med surg. But they always say you must do one year med/surg to get hired anywhere. That scares me. I feel like the job is physically draining the life out of me. I don't have the time to spend with my patients that they deserve because I am always running from one crisis to another or have so many meds to pass, dressings to do, insulins to give. I hope there is another area to start in besides med/surg once I get my RN or I think I may have gone through this for what??? Med surg is really tough, especially at 50 or older. :monkeydance::smackingf:yeahthat:

Why would you need a year as a M/S nurse with your years as an LVN?

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2008

Since you like psych, why not try it out? Suggest you look at factors involved when you were attacked as a MHW to see what you could change. I worked in med/surg for several years and was so stressed out. I've been a psych RN for a few months now and can't believe I actually enjoy a nursing job! I take safety precautions and have only been spit on one time. I have heard of coworkers being spit on, having hair pulled, and being kicked - but no serious injuries or attacks in the time I've worked there.

GOMER42 · Aug 16, 2008

I notice everyone is cheering "go to psych!" But, I think psych would bring you just as much stress as any other area (and you probably will get attacked again sometime or another).

Nursing is not a profession where your patients fart rainbows and bunnies. It is a stressful profession. Stressful, yet rewarding.

Good luck finding the right fit.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 17, 2008

Nursing is not a profession where your patients fart rainbows and bunnies.

I have to tell you after the day that I have had with what my patient DID fart out - this is extremely funny to me at this moment!!!!

I want to make it a bumper sticker.

Thanks for the laugh!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 17, 2008

I just graduated in May and have been working Med-surg at a community hospital. I got my RN/BSN b/c I wanted to help people. I took a med-surg job b/c I was told that you need 1 year of med-surg.
It's a magnet hospital and the people are great, but I hated med-surg in school and I hate it again now.
I'm realizing that being a bedside hospital RN is not the place for me. I get so stressed out (even though I have lots of support on my orientation) and I cry every day and I have to force myself to get out the door in the morning b/c I'm just dreading another day of it.
I liked my Psych preceptorship in school, and the psychiatric hospital were I worked as a mental health worker has said they would like to have me there as an RN - but DH is worried I'll get attacked by my patients again like when I was a MHW there.
I love the elderly so I though maybe working in a nursing home instead? What does an RN do there?
Does anyone have any advice for me on what I could do that would utilize my education but doesn't involve crazy amounts of stress (emotional and physical)?
I'm so upset right now Thanks for any advice you have for me.

You've gotten great advice so far. My advice is to follow your heart and do what YOU want to do. Medsurg became very overwhelming for me as well and as soon as I was able to (and found) tranfer to another unit, I jumped on it quick.

I :heartbeat coming to work each day and am loving it..........so unlike medsurg :no:

Much luck you!! :up: