Med Surg only ... for New grads???

KatieBell · Dec 7, 2005

The idea is that Med-Surg exposes a new nurse to a variety of illnesses/procedures.

And Med/Surg (though I've never worked it) is a speciality in itself.

RNLisa · Dec 7, 2005

I am not a grad yet, but in 6 months. Anyway, I have been told the same thing. Actually, I have been "encouraged" to start out in Med/Surg for at least a year. Reason: I am assuming it is so that as a new grad, we are still like a "sponge" and so we will see alot of different diagnoses on Med/Surg. We will also "fine tune" our skills (i.e. foleys, ivs, tpn, etc.) that we either only did a few times in our clinical situation or haven't even done yet. It is just an opportunity to gain much more needed experience. Then, we can decide what area of specialty we are interested in.

This is what a few RN's have told me. And really to think of it in that way, it does make sense.

It may not be what some people want, so it is a decision that is really up to the individual. I do know that some hospitals in my area will not hire a new grad in ICU or ER unless they have had at least a year of M/S experience. I guess it is up to the hospital as well.

IrishItalianRN · Dec 7, 2005

i think it would be good to round a new nurse out and gain exp. like you say but I would be afraid that i would never leave because i am the type to stay one place once i get comfortable and familiar with it LOL

allnurses Guide · Dec 7, 2005

It is one of those old nursing adages that needs to be looked at with fresh eyes . . . nursing has changed and while you can do med/surg and learn alot, if you want to specialize and find a hospital to work with you, then go for it.

steph

RNLisa · Dec 7, 2005

I had a few nurses tell me of a time when they were called to work on M/S because of a shortage of staff. These nurses were working on the OB/GYN floor and had been since graduating. They were on the M/S floor and really had a tough time remembering how to do some common nursing skills. But, these skills weren't "common" in the department that they had worked in since graduating nursing school.

I realize that you get a little rusty in your skills if you don't use them, no matter what department you work in, but I guess what I am saying is that these nurses started right out in a specialty area, then when needed to work in another area they were "lost" for awhile until they brushed up on their skills.

I don't know what way is best. I guess I personally will work M/S for at least a year, then try and get into the area I want. Which for me is OB/GYN. But, who knows, that may change.

CarVsTree · Dec 7, 2005

Med-surg is a great area to learn all of your skills. You will see a wide variety of patients and learn how to assess, how to know when something's wrong, learn your pharmacology, etc.

Specialized areas require you to learn the basics and the specialty simultaneously. I've spoken to many nurses who went right into a specialty and they said it was very STRESSFUL! Doable, yes, but very hard. I've also spoken to many nurses that did med-surg first and they are very greatful for the background. You also need to be sure which area you want to specialize in which is difficult without being a nurse first.

I had planned on going straight to NICU and have changed my mind. I will be staying right where I'm at as a tech on Transitional Trauma Unit. We are a Trauma Med-Surg unit. We get traumas and if census is low (rarely) we get regular med/surg patients. I know that first year will fly by (my year as a tech sure did) and I don't think I'll regret going to med-surg first. I may stick around for 2 if I like it.

IrishItalianRN · Dec 7, 2005

I decided to go into nursing when i was in the hospital after delivering my son. I decided i wanted to do PostPartum the most, and maybe L/D. I know everyone wants to do L/D but I can't help it thats what has pulled me this direction.

sparkplug · Dec 8, 2005

Med surg is a speciality and needs to be treated as such. You can become a CMSN just as you can become a CCRN. It is time for med surg to be respected for the speciality they are.

RNLisa · Dec 8, 2005

I agree that M/S is a specialty, I never meant it wasn't. I guess since during nursing school, we focus 4 quarters on M/S (acute care), I have a perception that a "specialty" is ICU, ER, OB/GYN, etc.

I didn't mean to make it sound like I think that M/S isn't a specialty. I am sorry for any disrespect. Any Nurse is a specialty in my opinion.

IrishItalianRN · Dec 8, 2005

OMG im so excited i got a message on my cell phone today from the VA if I want to pick up some 12 hour shifts in the LSU which is the Life Support Unit- the ER for the VA!! Just Yesterday I got a call from the LTC part of the VA that the Charge Nurse didnt want me to be scheduled there again because i had called out 2 days in a row because my son was sick. I didn't like working in LTC AT ALL. I really didnt like her either because she was so Two Faced. She didnt like you if you didnt kiss her butt and gossip with her...I hate that...

So i guess my supervisor put in a good word for me over there.... I can't wait to hear from them tomorrow!

RN and Mommy · Dec 8, 2005

I personally want to work in Med/Surg. I think I would learn so much from that. I currently work on an Ortho/Neuro unit as a CNA and I would be honored to get a job there and work with the patients and staff that I am comfortable with, not to mention get my skill down pat! I have done the OB, Peds, Psych, Geri rotations and so far the one I have loved the most is the Med/Surg rotation we did first semester when we didn't know anything. Remember all you 2nd year students how hard it was to write a careplan:chuckle . I went over mine a few weeks ago from 1st year. They were awful!:rotfl: I just see how much I have learned now and how much I still have to learn:typing . I think med/surg would give me the opportunity to learn a variety of things. OB or NICU or surgery or whatever will teach you a lot about one specialty. I want to experience a variety of illnesses and post op recoveries. I wish everyone the best luck in what they choose and hope there are others like me who enjoy med/surg. :nurse: