I'm a new grad who is interviewing for two positons:one is a med-surg,full time,days position in a very pretty,clean hospital,the other is a true telemetry floor (post cardiac op patients,MIs,heart failures,medical-surgical over flow),the largest private hospital in the state also teaching hospital (level one trauma hospital),part time positon,evenings...what would be the best choice for a new grad with zero hospital experience?
Thank you for all that read and responded. It sounds like the majority of you give vote for the tele floor. Even though I didnt receive any offers yet (one place is checking my references and they gave couple of days to think about my decision and I have an interview for a med-surg floor tommorow) I'm arleady contemplenting what would be the best option for me...It has been six month since I graduated and one of the least clinical rotations I had was actually a tele floor that I enjoyed much.. Yet I realize that I have been out of school for quite a long time and I'm perfectly aware of my limitations and shortcomings that are typical of a new grad (I have a very realistic view of myself and I'm not one of those grads who think they will make it anywhere any anyhow)..this will be my first nursing job and I want to make sure I'l pick the right floor which will provide me with the tools I need to become a sucessful nurse. It is a very difficult decision.Part of me seek chalenge that the tele floor offers but I'm hold back by the lack of confidence typical to so many new grads. My long term goals? I dont have any just yet, but I definitely woudnt mind working in the emergency room, I find it quite interesting and fast-paced. It is definitely something I would be interested in the future but I also like the variety that the med-surg has to offer although tele floor offers its own chalenging skills to learn. But I'm also fearing that I will be making the wrong choice and like one of the other posters said "be one of those grads who had a difficult time on tele floor and had to tranfer to a med-surg" That would be a total blow to my self-confidence not to mention the reaction of my family and friends,I can arleady hear the gossips in my mind "She is too stupid to be a nurse"
Also I'm not going to lie and say I dont need a full time job..my school loans are are due this month,not to mention I dont have a car anymore since it broke:crying2: I would like to help my dad as well since he lost his job..not to mention two of my dogs need to have an update on worms and rabbies shots and one of them needs a surgery to be neutered (he was born with one testicles in his abdomen and the vet said he needs to have his testicle removed ASAP since he is at increased risk for developing a testicle cancer)
It sucks and I dont feel like I should base my decision solely on the income factor but when you have so much expenses what one shall do.
Med sure will give you time organization experience which will always come in useful. In six months you can transfer if you still want to go to telemetry. Telemetry all at once can turn you off to inpatient positions, or it can be a good fit if you can do the fast pace, monitors, the occassional code blue, and like the extra pressure.
You could always get your foot in the door at the pretty place and get the full time hours/ dayshift, especially if you need to help out with your Dad and your furkids are needing some care beyond your TLC. That may not be what you want from jumpstreet, but then again, when one door closes another opens. The new grad jitters are normal, and some folks will say that the first year is the hardest. I will agree. Put the gossip mongers out of your head...don't let your fear of what they think of you as a newbie get to you before you even begin. Best wishes and hugs, Ivanna
I am a new nurse that graduated in May and have been working Med-surg since graduation in a small hospital. It is... a learning experience. I've got to admit, Med-surg is more of a starting position for a new RN and can be great experience especially in time management and prioritization. These are things many new RN's may think they are good idea but really (belive me) have NO idea until they are actually in that position. It can get old some days especially if you are at one of those hospitals that have a Med-surg floor that is mostly patients a step above a nursing home. Yeah, burn-out comes quickly. But it is a start, and it is a JOB. You can always transfer/move up and that is MUCH easier once you can show some experience on a resume. So, don't count the medsurg job out, it can be well worth a look, even if it is only as a stepping stone.
My hospital doesn't have a purely "med-surg" floor. So I work telemetry and will have maybe 1-2 patients that are not on telemetry. It has worked out well for me. I would suggest tele simply because you can work on your heart rhythms and monitoring without having a critical care patient. Tele isn't that big of a jump from med-surg and it will look better on your resume.
anonymurse
979 Posts
Follow a nurse for at least an entire shift on both units. Then pick the job that matches your chaos tolerance/craving factor.