Med/surg? Different at different places?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

I think it did make a difference in different facilities. You're never going to feel like you did 'enough' because there's always something you 'could' do... If you like the patients in med-surg, it could be the place.... JMHO :)

pale_pilsen · Jul 30, 2011

No, theyre all the same. It doesnt get any better except when they send you home early due to low patient census. Other than that, its the same bs.

Jewl · Jul 30, 2011

I worked for over a year in med/surg. Wasn't really a fan. Learned a lot but left most days feeling like I forgot something or that I hadn't done 110% for all 6 of my patients. A friend that worked with me said that the hospital where we worked didn't feel as "safe" as far as patient load goes as her last place of employment. I have nothing to compare it to and I just moved to a new state so I am job hunting. I wanted to ask those of you that have worked med/surg in more than one facility how you feel about it. Same old stuff, different place or was it truly different depending on the facility. I am wondering if I should give it another try. I don't have enough experience to go into a specialty area very easily and want to try to get to work sooner rather than later. Should I suck it up and get more med/surg experience and specialize later? Or not even waste my time since I knew I didn't really like it before? I have my BSN now which may help some, but I wonder if I should get more med/surg experience than what I already have.
Thanks for any input!!

L8RRN,

I work on a med-surge floor right now. I live in Florida and I too wonder if it is different at other places. I am a new grad and after orientation I was given 5 patients. Now I am up to 6 patients. Just the other day, they tried to give me 7 patients, but I had to refuse. It is hard enough taking care of 6 patients with only one aid leaving me to do all my am care. I have heard that St. Anthony's Hospital only allow their nurses 4 patients; sounds too good to be true. Anyhow, if you didn't really enjoy med-surge than why go back. You could work home health, take a travel assignment, enter a specialty, or even teach at a school. Definitly look to see what type of opportunities are available to you before going back into an area that you really didn't love. However, if you feel you could use more experience than med-surge is the way to go. It is stressful, and I think after my one year is up I will leave.

Good luck!,

Jewl

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

No, theyre all the same. It doesnt get any better except when they send you home early due to low patient census. Other than that, its the same bs.

Wow- do you hate nursing in general, or just med-surg??? It would be horrible to work some place that is only a good place when you don't have to be there... :)

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

I too am a new nurse and like Jewl's account, I routinely am given 6 pts. Luckily I have managed them fine, but do I feel 100% safe with this pt load? No way.

I leave totally stressed, exhausted, burnt out...you name it.

nurseaig, ASN, BSN, MSN, NP · Jul 30, 2011

I work in NYC and on monday I had 18 Pts. It was crazy. I am so afraid to return to work. It was three of us on the floor and around 3 am one of the nurses got sick and had to go home.

We started out with 11 apiece. What do you all think I should do? Need help.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

I work in NYC and on monday I had 18 Pts. It was crazy. I am so afraid to return to work. It was three of us on the floor and around 3 am one of the nurses got sick and had to go home.
We started out with 11 apiece. What do you all think I should do? Need help.

Get the heck out of there! Holy cow!!! Is 11 usual for you?? :eek:

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

OP, I have worked in 4 different hospitals, and on med surg floors. One hospital I floated and worked a variety of floors.

I have to disagree with the person that said they are all the same. They really are not. It depends on the hospital, managers, acuity and pt load. I have worked in some facilities that all you could do was the minimum for every patient, because you had to many. I actually got burned out on nursing because of this.

4 yrs later, I found a sweet place that I love. Guess what...it's a med/surg floor. Does it get busy? OMG, yes, but it never get's unsafe or totally insane. I love my job.

Maybe med/surg isn't for you and I don't think you mentioned how much experience you have. IMO, either try another facility or stick it out where you are for 2 yrs and try a speciality.

You are correct in realizing you need the med/surg background. Many places only want nurses with a minimum of 2 yrs. some around here want 3 yrs minimum.

Sparrow23 · Jul 30, 2011

Definitely different in different places! First med-surg job was a h*!! hole of pure insanity (but loved my coworkers at least). Love the place I'm at now and it is the exact same type of med-surg floor I was on before.

nurseaig, ASN, BSN, MSN, NP · Jul 30, 2011

11 Pts is regular for my floor. I have 14 Months on my floor, will be out of there in 8 months.

L8RRN · Jul 30, 2011

Thanks for all the input. I graduated in '09 and med/surg was my first job. I did have some office experience as a LPN, too. It wasn't really the work itself. It was the way I felt every day when I left and how I felt pulled in so many directions. Maybe it was from being a new nurse, too. I loved my co-workers and I like to stay busy, but I don't like feeling spread so thin that I will make a mistake or miss something. I guess trying a different facility may be in order.