MedSurg or specialty??

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2006

Med-surg can definately help you become a well-rounded nurse. However, if you heart isn't in it, why pass up on the opportunity to do what you really want to do? Go for the L&D job, no need to "pay your dues" or "get experience in med-surg first".

Good luck!

Katnip, RN · Apr 18, 2006

If you're sure they're going to offer a really strong internship/orientation, I'd say go for what you really want to do. Just know that the learning curve will be very steep because you'll also be learning and perfecting basic skills in addition to the specialty.

If they're going to give you a three week orientation then throw you to the wolves go for the med-surg first for at least a few months.

Edit: Tweety, LOL I'm one step behind you today.

NurseEcho · Apr 18, 2006

I am a nursing student and I am graduating in May. I was offered a job in the Labor and Delivery Department. I really want to take it and that is what I am interested in but people have told me that I need to get medsurg background first. Please let me know you're opinion on what is best for a new grad.

When I graduated, you needed several years of experience and a battering ram to get into Labor and Delivery. If you have been offered a job, and this is what you really want to do, go for it! As a CCU nurse who is scared to death of all things mother-baby, I salute you

Jaxx · Apr 18, 2006

I'm starting nursing school this fall, a career change after 20 years of paralegal work. I'm worried about a couple things: 1. getting queasy at the sight of open wounds and 2. getting queasy about seeing people in pain. I would probably do best in a dr.'s office, but I really think that the med surg/hospital experience will be interesting and necessary for me to be succcessful. Any tips on to help me prepare myself so that these things don't get to me? I plan to volunteer at the hospital but I don't think that will give me enough exposure. Thanks!

URO-RN · Apr 18, 2006

I am a nursing student and I am graduating in May. I was offered a job in the Labor and Delivery Department. I really want to take it and that is what I am interested in but people have told me that I need to get medsurg background first. Please let me know you're opinion on what is best for a new grad.

If the L and D position offers a good orientation and good preceptorship, by all means go for it. There is nothing written is stone that med-surg is where you should start your nursing career. But, make sure that they will offer you a good orientation

Good luck to you and congratulations.:balloons:

realnurse06 · Apr 18, 2006

I am a nursing student and I am graduating in May. I was offered a job in the Labor and Delivery Department. I really want to take it and that is what I am interested in but people have told me that I need to get medsurg background first. Please let me know you're opinion on what is best for a new grad.

I'm in the exact same situation. Graduate in May, love L&D, offered a position, scared to take it because of what most nurses say about starting in Med Surg.

I spoke with the nurse manager in the L&D unit that offered me the position about my concerns. She assured me that I would see a wide variety of patients and would not be behind in skills. She stated that telemetry pts, diabetics, pts with amputations, HIV pts, and pts with many other conditions still give birth. Therefore I will still be able to work with many different pts and conditions.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2006

L&D will have surgicals too. Med/surg is a specialty in its own also.

NicuNightRN · Apr 19, 2006

I'm a new nurse, graduated last May. I also went through the same sort of dilemma. I knew that I wanted to go to NICU, but heard so many people say over and over again that new nurses need to go to med-surg to get the basics down. I HATED taking care of adults (and I am so glad there are people out there who want to do it!!!) so when the opportunity to go straight toe NICU came up, I took it. We got a pretty intense orientation. Some specialties are so different from med-surg that you have to relearn your skills once you eventually get to where you want to be. If L&D is where your heart is, and they are willing to give you the orientation you need and deserve as a new nurse, go for it!

silly-c · Apr 19, 2006

There are different ways of looking at it. As a new grad, you can be molded into the nurse the facility wants. As a new nurse you may or may not be comfortable with your own skills. You make the decision and go with it. If you want the med/surg experience go for it, if not, you have already been hired as a nurse in L&D, work it and see if thats where you want to stay. Congrats on the job!

Steve