Med Surg experience a must?

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I've heard lots of people say that getting at least a year of Meg/Surg experience is beneficial as a new grad, because it gives you a great base of knowledge and experience to work from. Do you guys agree? Do you think spending time on a MedSurg floor is essential and that moving into a more specialized area (OR/ED/L&D etc..) right away is a bad idea?

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Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.

Sara,

I was told that too but I did cardiac telemetry step down right out of nursing school and it gave me a great cardiac foundation and also all the other diagnoses that go along with that speciality. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia and even psychiatric experience. I was also oriented by a great bunch of nurses who took me under the wing and I worked night shift so was kind of slower pace and got to know my patients better. I had a patient load of 8. I think it is good to get that foundation then move on to other specialities if you want. However med-surg is something that is always in demand in the hospital because it is a diverse area and you learn alot. So I believe myself it is a good idea to get a broad overview when you are a spanking new nurse. :D

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Specializes in Psychiatry, ICU, ER.

I knew that I'd be a TERRIBLE med/surg nurse. I started off right in a high acuity SICU. Worked there for a year and some months. Now I've been in ED for 9 months and have been very successful at both ED and ICU. I've seen some long-time med/surg nurses try ICU and ER and utterly fail. I've also seen pretty much everything that you'd generally see on the floor, except often in uncompensated states, and I've managed many critical situations that would NOT be seen on the floor. I have no regrets about going straight into critical care.

You have to be honest, how willing are you to do your homework outside of work? How cautious are you and much responsibility are you willing to take? What resources do you have, what kind of orientation will you have? If the answer is few resources and a month orientation, DO NOT TAKE THE JOB. I spent a LOT of time studying critical care. I mean... a LOT. The new nurses that came into the ICU and were not dedicated... well... they either made serious mistakes or didn't last long.

Bottom line, reflect on your abilities and aptitude, and don't let anybody with a case of sour grapes tell you you have to do such-and-such a certain way because that's how THEY did it. Best of luck! :)

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.

Helpful? Probably. Needed? No.

I started in L&D right out of school, never had any med-surg experience and am now an FNP.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I don't believe it matters what department you start in as long as you see the opportunities for learning where ever you are.

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Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

I don't think you have to have med/surg experience first....I didn't, and did/have done quite well. It all is perspective I think. No matter what population of patient you care for, bodies are basically the same although affected differently, individually, by disease states/surgery/etc. Skills are similar/maybe the same. Assessments in general, cover all bodys systems in any population....I think you get my point. Anyway---choose what area you want and go for it & best wishes to you!

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Working in medsurg right out of nursing school for almost one year has given me an amazing experience! I´d rotate through medsurg units so I could learn a lot from differents specialties (peds,orthopeds,cardio,pneumo,gastro etc), different nurses and pts.

At first I didnt think it´d be a good experience but looking back Istrongly believe that it´s been one of the best things that has ever happened to me!

Now I feel like I´m ready to work anywhere!

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I love med surg. This is what I want to do when I graduate. This way Ill never lose the skills I am learning in school, and it's a great opportunity to learn from taking care of variety of patients, (unlike ob and loved my ob rotation)

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I knew that I'd be a TERRIBLE med/surg nurse. I started off right in a high acuity SICU. Worked there for a year and some months. Now I've been in ED for 9 months and have been very successful at both ED and ICU. I've seen some long-time med/surg nurses try ICU and ER and utterly fail. I've also seen pretty much everything that you'd generally see on the floor, except often in uncompensated states, and I've managed many critical situations that would NOT be seen on the floor. I have no regrets about going straight into critical care.

You have to be honest, how willing are you to do your homework outside of work? How cautious are you and much responsibility are you willing to take? What resources do you have, what kind of orientation will you have? If the answer is few resources and a month orientation, DO NOT TAKE THE JOB. I spent a LOT of time studying critical care. I mean... a LOT. The new nurses that came into the ICU and were not dedicated... well... they either made serious mistakes or didn't last long.

Bottom line, reflect on your abilities and aptitude, and don't let anybody with a case of sour grapes tell you you have to do such-and-such a certain way because that's how THEY did it. Best of luck! :)

I just love this type pf attitude. I am also going straight into the ICU right outta school. But I will do anything needed to be the best nurse I can be. I'm extremly dedicated and did debate going straight to ICU vs med-surg for an entire semester. I asked my teachers, my family and my friends all for their advise, and finally felt confident ICU is where I should start as I know that's why I went to nursing school to begin with. The way I see it, is why not start ym first year, where I'll get the majority of my training and also be kinda molded into a nurse right where my heart lies. I think it takes alot of soul searching, but if you belong in CC go for it :up:

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Specializes in Pediatric Burn Care.
The way I see it, is why not start ym first year, where I'll get the majority of my training and also be kinda molded into a nurse right where my heart lies. I think it takes alot of soul searching, but if you belong in CC go for it :up:

I completely agree! My question based on this is: What do you think about the situation where I have been searching for a job as a new grad since May 2010; and I am kinda getting to the point where I kinda want to take any job opportunity given to me? I know where my passion lies - Women's Services... but it is difficult to find any positions taking new nurses right now, much less a specialty area. My worry is all this time that is going by and I am a new nurse not gaining experience :crying2: So, should I take any opportunity presented to me?

I didn't mean to ask a different question on this thread (sorry about that). I just wanted y'all's opinions based on some of the responses and wasn't sure how to go about it - I am new to allnurses :D

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I debated the same thing. I didn't think I was going to get the ICU job honestly, as they didn't really want to hire a new grad. So before I received the offer I was a wreck trying to figure out what to do. I was offered a position on the floor (resp floor) that I knew I had to fall back on of the ICU didn't come through, but I dreaded it. Honestly I ended up deciding I was going to hold out for CC somewhere vs take something that may not be all I had hoped for. I came into nursing with my deep seeded passion, and didn't want to lose it doing something I didn't like. I had friends that told me I was insane, and take whatever is offered, but I didn't agree. So my opinion is hold out for what you want. You may have to expand it a bit, maybe go from just women's health to that and peds or something, or mental health/substance abuse in women. Keep your same goal but look a bit outside maybe?

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Specializes in Pediatric Burn Care.

i know you are right. it is just so tempting to settle at this point... i have been applying to anything and everything in women's health and pedi. even the openings that say "experience required" and such. hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, home-health, ect. i have tried the resume builder web-sites, cover letters... i have walked into hr departments, handing in my resume... i have called every hospital in my area - i am in contact with several nursing recruiters. needless to say - i am working on trusting that all of this will eventually pay-off & learning alot about patience

i am so thankful i found this web-site! the support is such a blessing :D

thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with me choc0late!

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