new grad in ambulatory surgery center? what do you think

[shuubie]

I'm a new grad and was offered a position at a private ambulatory care surgery center specializing in ophthalmology. I was told that I would be trained in pre-op/op/post-op. I'm afraid that it's too specialized and that I will end up losing the nursing skills that I went to school for. It's so hard for new grads to find a hospital job nowadays (which is where I really want to be). Will taking this position limit me from moving on to somewhere else after I get my experience? Any suggestions, comments? Thanks

[NightNurseRN]

Take it! I would love that job. I dont think it will limit you in the future.

[SmilingBluEyes]

GO FOR IT. I started out in OB which everyone told me I should not do. 13 years later, no regrets. Med-surg is EXCELLENT experience for new graduates, but not mandatory for success. I think I am proof of that. Besides, jobs for new grads can be hard to come by. I would take it unless you don't want to work in Ambulatory.

[TabithaB]

You will be amazed how much will translate over to other areas!

I am a peds nurse but also ended up doing (as a side line) sleep studies...........it actually helped me with my regular ward job: i.e 24 hour eeg monitoring and cpap etc.

Take it and enjoy the new experiences you will be exposed to!!!!

Good luck!!!!

[PACNWNURSING]

You better take the job because the job market for new grads is awful, tell you what if you dont take I will.... tell me where to apply!!!!!!

[mamamerlee, LPN]

TAKE THE JOB !!!!! I am so jealous.....

[msn10]

Good for you. We all end up specializing eventually.

Med surg is a great way to start, but those floors also suffer from new grad deforestation. Usually many new grads are planted on the med surg floors to get experience, but end up leaving in a couple of years to the floor or place they really wanted to go to in the first place. This leaves many of the med surg floors with a high turnover rate and burned out nurses.

I personally think the med surg floor should be treated better and give the RNs more incentive to stay.

Have fun in ophthalmology, but I would definitely see what their training is like first. You have your new license to think about now!

[belladona]

Take it! They are willing to train you and that's a plus. It may be specialized in opthalmology but the surgery center training is worth it. There are ambulatory surgery centers or same day surgery centers popping up everywhere.

[shuubie]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to take it :)

[John20]

How's the pay compared to local hospitals?

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I hate to be the Debbie Downer, but there is another side to this.

I wouldn't worry about being limited in the future, not at all. With proper orientation periods, you can be trained to just about any nursing department in the future. (And you can always try to get a part time or agency MedSurg job or something, too!)

I worked in a similar environment in nursing school, as a tech. (We didn't do much eye surgery, though). Here's the thing...nurses in any ambulatory setting need to be able to recognize early signs and symptoms of complications, because they only see the patient for so long before and after procedures. One needs to be able to pick up on post op complications or potential pre-op issues, and assessment skills must be top notch. And remember, just because you specialize in eyes, doesn't mean patients don't have other comorbidities that may affect their operative and post-op courses.

I don't want to scare you, though. Just make sure you ask questions, lots and lots of questions, of your preceptors and don't be afraid to bring up any issues with the doctors. Physicians tend to trust nurses in this speciality area because they are so autonomous. Sometimes autonomy can be dangerous.

Wish you the best.

And feel free to ignore me completely...

[shuubie]

Camaro, you have a very good point! I'm going to try my best and absorb any knowledge & skills I can. Thanks!