Medical unit or surgical unit for a new grad ?

TaikoRN · Feb 25, 2011

I won't graduate until May but have been volunteering in a PACU (post surgery recovery area). The nurses there love it but also say that they don't remember enough to comfortably transfer to another area. Just something to consider...

RNpatterson · Feb 25, 2011

It would seem to me that only you can answer that. What are you drawn to? Personally, I'd choose surgery in a heartbeat and I could only dream of being in your shoes with that option (I graduate in August). But that's me and my personality. What do you like? Pros and cons of each option? What are your future ambitions and which one takes you there? I guess if you're not sure it might make more sense to go the medical route for a more well-rounded experience..? What's the unit?

BettyBoop01 · Feb 25, 2011

What type of surgical floor? Is it general surgical? Or like Ortho? GI? Bariatric? Plastic Surgery?I worked on a general surgical floor, with scheduled and trauma surgeries. I love surgical, very rarely do we get patients on precautions (they go to medical) because we want our fresh post ops infection free! There is a lot of blood tranfusions, iv antiobiotics, and a lot of pain control. Ortho patients require a lot of lifting it is hard work. Bariatric patients are even harder. But I love that a patient gets better and goes home relatively healthy. I love the patients.

What type of patients on medical, is it general medical or more specialized? My hospital has two, one is mostly CHF and the other is everything. I do not enjoy medical as much, just my opinion. I found it too depressing, the people are really sick. Some people love it, since you get to see so much. I do not think it is easier than surgical. I am not sure who told you that. No floor is easy, especially as a newbie!

You will learn a ton on either floor! You have to figure out which type of patient you prefer. Can you ask them to shadow a few hours on each floor? I think that would really help you see which floor you prefer. It cannot hurt to ask.

n.nclex · Feb 26, 2011

Thank all of you for those good advices once again. They are general medical floor and general surgical floor. It is a 199 beds hospital and the medical surgical unit is divided into medical floor and surgical floor. I like both units and medical surgical unit is my passion. I know there is no easy jobs for rn nowadays, but I still want to go for the floor less stressful because I am totally new in nursing caree.

solneeshka, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2011

I started off on a medicine floor and that would be my recommendation. So you can see that people are recommending what they did! On medicine, I think you are more likely to see more things. You will get some surgical patients (no matter what management tells you), but you won't see medicine patients on a surgical unit. You will still get experience with wound care, pain control, etc. Previous poster is right in saying the patients on a medicine unit are generally much sicker than patients on a surgical unit, but that's why it's such a great learning experience. Whichever you choose, you don't have to stay in it for the rest of your career, you can always change!

n.nclex · Mar 2, 2011

Thank solneeshka very much.

Nevada_RN · Mar 25, 2013

I know this is an old post, but here goes... I am a new grad working on a surgical unit. It is a 50 bed unit in a 900+ bed trauma hospital. It is the largest hospital in the area. While I love my co-workers and the patients, we are constantly busy. I've had up to 8 patients in one day if you include the transfers, discharges, and admissions. Normally, I have 6 patients. We do get medical overflow and plenty of isolation patients. It is definitely a challenge as a new grad, but I love it. Obviously, my experience on the surgical unit will vary from others' experiences because I do work in a large hospital with a lot of surgeries going on every day. While I cannot speak to medical units, I can say that surgical units are typically very busy units. That being said, it gives you great experience. That is just my two cents.