Med Surg or Tele

[cjblu]

I have been working on a tele floor for about 2 months, mostly post angio patients, sheath pulls, etc. I didn't feel the orientaiton was that great, and I feel disorganized and clueless. Management just says I am "where I should be" and that I am doing fine, but they don't hear what is going on inside my head.

I have an offer from another local hospital that has a "new grad program" and I would be starting on a med surg floor. I am just having a hard time deciding if I should move to another floor for a more well-rounded pt population and supportive new grad orientation, or just stick it out with tele. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. :wink2:

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

Maybe before you think about taking that other job you could meet with your current nurse manager & tell him/her that you would like an extension on your orientation since you feel you need help getting organized with your work. See if that works for you. Have you taken a class yet on how to interpret tele strips? Has it helped? Think about if it is the tele part that is hard or if it's just getting organized in general that you need to work on. Good luck! :)

-Christine

[KatieRN04]

I worked med-surg for a year. I took care of every type of patient imaginable, stable, not stable, cardiac, GI, GU, pulmonary, OB, neuro, ortho....the experience was something I would not take back. I just recently transferred to intensive care. I am now working with another girl who transferred to intensive care at the same time as I did, and she came from telemetry. From what you say, her floor sounds the same as yours, and while she had the "monitors, drips, and cardiac post procedure's" down pat, it seems she lacks the basic skills. I think that you should go for the med surg new grad program, while you might not like it, it will be to your best benefit. Dont get me wrong, this other girl is a good nurse, she just isnt confident in some things because she was on a speciality floor, and now she is having a hard time. I think you owe it to yourself to get a good orientation and a new experience.

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

My unit is pretty cool-we're a med/surg unit with tele monitors, so I've taken care of many types of pts now-cardiac, but also lots of gyn, respiratory, GI bleeds, cancer, diabetes, stroke pts, psych pts, ortho, etc...maybe you could find a combo unit like this to work on-it's great experience.

[cjblu]

Thank you so much you guys! I appreciate your input so much. I have been going back and forth in my mind over this like you wouldn't believe. I was "officially" offered the med surg position today, and just thought I would check this website to see if there were any new postings to my question. In my heart I want to take the med surg position, and based on your advice, I think that is just what I will do. Thanks again!