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Hi everyone, this is my first post. I am currently a nursing student and have one semester left. I have read many posts and talked to many nurses and the consensus is- EVERYONE hates Med-Surg nursing. I was just wondering if anyone really enjoyed it and why. Also, what is your opinion on nursing students going to either the ER or ICU right from school? Would you advise to do Med-Surge first???? Thank-you- just trying to figure out a game plan for the future. JOSH (Graduation DECEMBER 06!!!!!)
Hi everyone, this is my first post. I am currently a nursing student and have one semester left. I have read many posts and talked to many nurses and the consensus is- EVERYONE hates Med-Surg nursing. I was just wondering if anyone really enjoyed it and why. Also, what is your opinion on nursing students going to either the ER or ICU right from school? Would you advise to do Med-Surge first???? Thank-you- just trying to figure out a game plan for the future. JOSH (Graduation DECEMBER 06!!!!!)
Good luck and keep going!!!! IMHO, i feel that all nurses should start out in a med-surg area to hone their general skills for whatever specialty they seek next. yes it is tough, and many want out after ahwile, but i have worked on a med-surg unit (3+yrs--unit clerk) and it is never a dull moment there!!! i would love to work ER and ICU as well as some HHC for sure, but i want to "get my feet wet" in med-surg for at least 6mos...it seems logical doesn't it? General Med-surg before ER, or ICU, etc....General, then specialty=practice makes perfect?? (well, nothings perfect....):balloons:
I wanted to start on a med-surg floor to get that all around general experience it provides. Of course, this was the advice of every instructor and experienced nurse that I know....
I am 6 weeks into my orientation on a med-surg floor now. Major learning experience! I was a great student and did well clinically. I also worked part time as an aide at this same hospital while in NSG school but the first few shifts as a graduate nurse were a real eye opener. Time management and prioritization are probably the biggest problems for new nurses. Also, finding time to chart is tough.
I have learned a ton. I am incredibly busy most days. I like the challenge and keep trying to improve. I never know what to expect. It can be frustrating, exhausting, funny, and rewarding all in the same day. Right now I plan to stay where I am for a year or so and then try something else. Who knows, though, I may stay longer.
IMHO, if you are not really sure where you want to be and/or have no previous healthcare experience, by all means do the med/surg. But, if you already have a passion for a certain area, go for it and don't waste time because some instructor told you that was best. That was a very old school way of thinking and part of me thinks it's sour grapes when you have the experienced nurses complaining about new grads in specialties. Many people have already started to burn out only after 6 months on med/surg at my hospital. The nurses that work there are so overworked and taken advantage of and it puts your license at risk when you have patient ratios of 7:1 or on one floor 11:1. Good luck in whatever you choose and always know that it is YOUR career-do what you think is best.
22 years in Med Surg here, and I still love it. I've tried subacute, LTC, and administration and hated all of it. I love the fast pace of med surg, the constant changing patients, the ability to use my assessment skills to head off a problem with a patient. I love being able to identify a crashing patient, acting quickly and getting them to ICU. I float occassionally to ICU and I don't get the same satisfaction that I get with med surg. I don't want to be looking at monitors and drips all day.. just not my thing.
I've tried it all... I'm a bedside nurse, through and through.
I have 3 years in Med Surg, and I LOVE it :redbeathe . I can't imagine myself anywhere else. Many of you keep saying you want to specialize in something, so let me tell you that Med Surg is now considered a specialty that you can get certification in. No longer is it just a springboard to something else. Like all other areas, it takes a certain personality to succeed in that area. I think I'll probably retire from right where I am
I've been on a M/S floor for over 5 years, and while there are days that I wonder why I didn't take all the offers given to me for other specialties, nothing beats the pace and learning experiences on M/S. Just last night, my seasoned co-workers and I learned from an ICU attending called to the floor for a problem that sometimes patients in sepsis will continue to drop their blood sugar, despite multiple amps of D50 being pushed. Made total sense once he told us, but it was the first time ever that 4 nurses with well over 20 years experience combined had heard of this.
Try it. If you really don't like it, you have other options available. That's the beauty of nursing - you can do what suits you best.
ETA - not to mention, you really hone your assessment skills.
Hello!
I have been in med/surg for 3 years now and I still love it. I love the variety and fast pace of med/surg. It is tough to get used to med/surg and it takes about a year for new nurses to feel confident. I have heard many nurses say that they hate med/surg but almost always they admit that they learned from the experience. Even if you hate med/surg it can help you find your area of interest because you are exposed to so many types of patients and such variety of treatments and procedures. Best of luck!
Hi.I work in med-surgical area plus high dependency unit in the ward for three years. from my view of point, I think it was interesting and challenging. Challenging in the sense of dealing with different diagnosis and different care that you have to provide in the same day and same time. I also agree with EGRADNURSE about the ward condition when you are working in med-surgical ward. you have to attend to the patient, doctors, and even the relatives. yes, you will feel the stress in the ward, but I beg you really will learn a lot from the ward. you will learn how to deal with multicomplain patient , fussy patient or relatives, sarcastic doctor, attend to emergency, manage your time etc. it was a challenging ward. so I strongly recommend that you start with med and sur ward before you go to other specialise area.
I like med-surg. Hate ICU, hate ER. No interest at all in L&D (I became a nurse to take care of sick people, pregnant women aren't sick!) It depends on your personality. If you're a bit too detail oriented, you'll never make it. You CANNOT know every little detail about every patient. You CANNOT do every little thing. You really have to keep sight of the forest and not focus on a tree. Because if you're water and fertilizing one tree too long, loggers will come along and get one of your other trees.
smilin_gp
392 Posts
I've only been working as an RN for a month and a half, but I don't hate Med-Surg. I work on a surgical/telemetry unit and am at the end of my orientation. I get to see an incredible variety of patients and conditions, and I get a little bit of pride out of feeling that I am learning to be productive in an area where nurses are really needed. I do feel incredibly slow sometimes, and it is frustrating, but I work with an incredible team on the floor and feel that I am learning as much as I can possibly take in.