New Grad-Med/Surg or Specialty

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I just graduated and would like to get into a specialty. Would it be wise to begin my career on a med/Surg floor or go directly into a specialty? I'm back and forth about what to do. I am in my fifties starting a new career.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

This is going to be a combination of personal choice and employer availability. In my view, med/surg is itself a specialty- after all, it has its own certification and skill set. Can it provide a foundation for other specialties? Yes, but is it truly necessary? I'm someone who went into a specialty as a new grad. It's more about the support in the environment and the ability of the nurse to function there.

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Thank you for your reply. 
My biggest concern is going directly to the specialty and then later decide to switch to something else. I would have lost my chance as a new grad nurse to learn how to be a general nurse and not get that training.

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I have been nursing for >40 years.  I can say from experience and knowing/working with a lot of nurses in a lot of fields the more solid your foundation, the broader your experience the better you will be at anything you do.  I always recommend starting in Med-Surg.  It is hard to go back to med surg once you have done a specialty because there will be a steep learning curve to catch up.  If you are a new grad now you will get / should get a great orientation, if you go back as an "experienced nurse" even if in a specialty area you will be expected to function after a short orientation.  Hope that helps... have fun with whatever you decide. Nursing is such a terrific field.

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That is exactly what I needed to hear, thank you. I was worried about going directly into a specialty and then later on wanting to change. I don't want to miss that new nurse orientation, but I'm also much older and want to start my specialty sooner. Is a year sufficient on a med Surg floor?

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Oh wow congrats! I feel like I'm being discriminated against as I've applied to several new grad programs all to be rejected. Call it ageism but I'm 46 and I feel as if they're looking for younger brand new grads in 20s or 30s just a thought.
I initially wanted to start in a specialty unit but no success so I'm starting at a hospital on med-surg tele floor with only 3 days of preceptorship but at this point I realize I need to pay my dues in med surg before I apply to a specialty unit in 6mos-2 yr or so. 
this may not be the case for you so I'm wishing you best of luck on your future endeavors! 

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Thanks! I'm in my 50s and I was worried about getting a job bc of my age, I actually had several offers.
3 days doesn't sound like enough training for a new nurse. What about a hospital where you had clinicals?

luckily my specialty offers a residency program.

good luck!

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