Need honest opinion. Best area for new grad to start

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I need some honest opinions. What do you think is the best area for a new grad to start out in? I have heard that there are some areas/specialties where it would not be prudent for a new grad to start out in. Initially I wanted perioperative, but I did not get in to that internship. I was offered a position on the cardiology floor. My only worry about med-surg is that in clinicals, I was conscientious but felt slow and overwhelmed. I worked in the medical field for years, just not with patients... I pushed paper. Will the skills and time-management just take some getting used to, or is it sometimes just not a good fit for certain people? I am very caring and good with patients, but I am nervous about having to take care of 5 to 6 patients when I felt so overwhelmed in clinical. Any advice on how I can prepare myself for this position, or are there other areas for new grads that might be a better fit for me. I know this experience would certainly be great. Thanks.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

Hi, I work in a rural hospital where I do Med-Surg, OB, and ER. We also do some pre and post op stuff. The only other place I've worked in was a nursing home. It might be a good place to start because you get exposed to so many different things and could decide which thing you really liked doing most.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

In this market, I would take ANY job you get offered. If you wait for the "right" job you may be unemployed a year from graduation. Study everything you can about cardiac, and hope for a good preceptor and orientation period. Cardiac will teach you a ton of things you can use in any area. I work in sub acute rehab and call on my clinical rotation in cardiac often. Best of luck, whatever you decide!

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Specializes in orthopedics, telemetry, PCU.

I think med-surg is a great place to start. I worried that I would feel overwhelmed, based on how I felt in clinicals, and I was right. However, you're going to feel overwhelmed no matter where you start. If you have a good preceptor, and adequate orientation, you will develop a good routine that works for you. I work cardiac/PCU and I learn something new every day, and think I'm developing great skills and a good foundation of knowledge to build on.

I agree that unfortunately, right now, you kind of need to take what you can get or you might not have any options.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

Take the job that interests you. Med-surg is not nursing with training wheels by the way. It's definitely more than a place for new grads to get their foundation. It's very demanding and if you truly don't don't want to work there, don't.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Take the job that interests you. Med-surg is not nursing with training wheels by the way. It's definitely more than a place for new grads to get their foundation. It's very demanding and if you truly don't don't want to work there, don't.

It's not that I "don't want to work there". That wasn't my question. And I do see Med-surg as very demanding and most likely a challenging place to work. I gave my background about being slower in clinicals because it was foreign to me (working with paper instead of people all of my life). I asked if there was anything I could do to better prepare myself for this position so that I could be good at it. Will the skills and speed come with time? I was just looking for honest replies. I'm trying to do some self-examination to figure out if I am cut out to handle this type of floor...... it's not that I don't want to work med-surg.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
It's not that I "don't want to work there". That wasn't my question. And I do see Med-surg as very demanding and most likely a challenging place to work. I gave my background about being slower in clinicals because it was foreign to me (working with paper instead of people all of my life). I asked if there was anything I could do to better prepare myself for this position so that I could be good at it. Will the skills and speed come with time? I was just looking for honest replies. I'm trying to do some self-examination to figure out if I am cut out to handle this type of floor...... it's not that I don't want to work med-surg.

I know. I was just heading off all the "start off in med-surg to get your foundation" responses.

The skills and speed will come with time. To be honest, it took me a good year before I felt somewhat comfortable and a couple of years before I really felt like I knew what I was doing. It may come quicker for you. You will feel awkward and slow no matter where you start off. I wouldn't worry about preparing ahead of time, there really is no way to do it. The fact that you understand the challenges ahead means you are off to a good start, a lot of people do not.

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Med/Surg is great but can be a bit overwhelming to a new graduate. Depends on what type of preceptorship program your facility offers. The longer the better but with the economy, that's not really cost effective. Thank your lucky stars if your hospital offers a long program.

Have you considered Skilled Long Term Care? They have lots of the things you need to feel comfortable (IV's, treatments, wound care, medications, feeding tubes, g-tubes etc) but in a slower paced environment. Most patients are transitioning from acute care but not ready to go home. Lots of rehab too but you get a chance to know your patient a little better and there's usually a mix of patients instead of ALL acute care and high anxiety (for you and the patient). I think if you'd do that for a year or so, you'd have a better idea of what you like and feel much more confortable with nursing 'basics'.

Good Luck and have a long and happy career. :nurse:

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Med/Surg is great but can be a bit overwhelming to a new graduate. Depends on what type of preceptorship program your facility offers. The longer the better but with the economy, that's not really cost effective. Thank your lucky stars if your hospital offers a long program.

Have you considered Skilled Long Term Care? They have lots of the things you need to feel comfortable (IV's, treatments, wound care, medications, feeding tubes, g-tubes etc) but in a slower paced environment. Most patients are transitioning from acute care but not ready to go home. Lots of rehab too but you get a chance to know your patient a little better and there's usually a mix of patients instead of ALL acute care and high anxiety (for you and the patient). I think if you'd do that for a year or so, you'd have a better idea of what you like and feel much more confortable with nursing 'basics'.

Good Luck and have a long and happy career. :nurse:

How do I find Skilled Long Term Care positions? Are these considered nursing home jobs? I've heard of Skilled LTC but wasn't quite sure what it was. Thanks!

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Specializes in LTAC, OR.
How do I find Skilled Long Term Care positions? Are these considered nursing home jobs? I've heard of Skilled LTC but wasn't quite sure what it was. Thanks!

I think this person is talking about a Long-term Acute Care (or LTAC) hospital. I started out at one and it was definitely a good place to hone some basic skills before I got the job I really wanted: operating room. We had a lot of variety and the patients were fairly complex. I've had a few coworkers in the OR tell me that they wish they would have gotten the experience that I did.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Education.

Emergency Department..hands down. Think about the experience you'll get in everything! From there you can easily make a decision if you want to specialize. That's what I did over 5 years ago and have excelled more than most. Bonne Chance!!

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Specializes in ltc and med surg.

I have to say congratulations for thinking things through before making such an important decision. I would say that LTC is a good way to start to get familiar with Geriatrics which is a large part of the population in Med/Surg. It helps to learn time management and basic old people meds and conditions. However, you could start in Med/Surg many new grads do well there. I would not compare it to school/clinicals, it is much different when you are on the job. I learned so much during Orientation. I felt that orientation on the job is where I learned all the things I wish I had learned in school.

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