Mother-Baby to Public Health, now to Med-Surg

[KetuUCF]

Hey Everyone!

I need some advice... I've been an RN for almost 3 years now. I started in Mother-Baby, worked there for 9 months then got an offer to work in Public/Community Health which was closer to home, good benefits, and no weekends. I've worked there for 2 years now and I've decided it's time to move on and go back to the hospital. Some ask why I went into public health, but it gave me a different experience from being in the acute care setting and I've learned so much from the providers that I've worked with, which will help me a great deal when I decide to pursure my long term goal of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, since I will have contacts hopefully to precept with. At the health department, I did a little bit of everything from Family Planning, Maternity, Primary Care for Peds, Adults, and Geriatrics, Immunizations, and STDs. As I was looking for positions to go back into the hospital, I was debating between going back to Mother Baby or to do something completely different such as Med Surg. As a new grad I was so afraid to go into Med Surg because of the stories I've heard and I really just had no interest in working there. But now with more experience, I realize that I don't want to "pigeon whole" myself in only working in Community Health and Mother-Baby. True, as an FNP I would prefer to concentrate on Women's Health, but I feel that the experience I will gain in Med Surg will help me a great deal in giving Primary Care to women. I am both excited and a little anxious to start my new position on a Med Surg floor working night shift. It will definately give me more flexibility in wanting to go back to school versus working 5 days a week. The only worry I have is that I hate that I am going to feel like a new grad all over again especially since I've been out of the hospital for 2 years now. I was kind of surprised they didn't start me off in there new grad program, since I only have 9 months of hospital experience and not 12 months. I plan to brush up on my books to help prepare myself. My orientation is suppose to be for at least 6 weeks, and I am hoping if I need more time they will allow me to do so with my preceptor. But any advice to someone re-entering the hospital scene on a Med Surg floor? I would greatly apreciate any advice and feedback.

Thanks! :)

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Night shift is a great shift to start for a newcomer. Less pre/post ops. You will get assessments down & your routine, but have less visitors, less med pass and less hustle and bustle. 6 weeks is a generous time frame for precepting. Hope it's a great experience for you. The hardest part will be adjusting to nocs. :-) Get some blackout draperies & white noise for daytime sleep.Good luck!