Med/surg opportunity for rehab/home health RN...advice, suggestions?

[dukesgal]

Hi, all! I've been a nurse for two years and have experience in LTC, rehab, hospice, and most recently am working private duty home health. I really love my current position, but there are no benefits and I know that in order to achieve my long term goal (MSN for the Nurse Educator track), I need a solid med/surg background. I am currently a few months away from earning my BSN, and I am hopeful to be able to teach clinicals for a bit until I can start on my MSN. While I was working LTC, and even rehab I had between 20-30 patients to pass meds and do dressing changes, treatments, etc. I know I can time manage to care for 5-6 patients on a med/surg unit. The hospital I am interviewing at is a small facility, with no ICU or maternity wards. I know a little stress and anxiety are healthy and ensure that I will be safe and utilize my critical thinking skills, but I am a little concerned that I haven't done med/surg since nursing school. I currently care for a vent dependent quad in his home, and while he is my only patient, I oversee all aspects of his care. I am confident in my abilities and the hospital is offering at least a month of orientation, and more if I feel I need more time to transition safely, but there is always that OMG! panic moment in the back of my mind! ;-PDoes anyone have any words of advice for those of you that have successfully transitioned from LTC to a medical- surgical unit? Any nursing brains or aids to help me organize my pts would also be very much appreciated!

[veil3974]

Hi I guess all nurse goes to that same feeling.I started as a nurse in a LTC , and a foreign nurse and no experience in any clinical setting here in USA.I got hired in the hospital (Med-surg/tele unit) .My advice is if you feel you need more time for orientation you have to let them know.Ask questions alot with your preceptor, you took care of a vent pt so you already have experience with it. I am very nozzy up till now that leads me to learn alot of things than other nurse that started ahead of me.Ask advice on your preceptor how they get thru out their night/day of work.Most nurses have their own management.Read all those papers they post inside the med room ,breakroom etc.I move from LTC to Level 1 trauma MC so its a struggle for me but im now going 2 years .I still read,go online for any updates in the nursing things.oh BTW i keep a small cheat book when i was starting.I have no experience in reading EKG strip but thru time i learned it from being nozzy and checking it over and over again. IF having 5-6 pt per shift i know you will use your prioritization technique (Maslow) it works very well.Hope it does helps,praying for you :) ...