New grad question for all you pros out there :)

[Maevish]

i'm going to be graduating in december and i want to work either in ob or the er, but i've heard it's better to get med-surg experience first. i know that's probably true, but i hate m/s and was wondering if there were any of you who went straight to a specialty from school and how it was for you.

thanks!

[RN34TX]

I just left a med-surg floor after 6 months for ICU and if I can help it I won't look back.

And there goes yet another med/surg nurse who doesn't plan on ever returning.

And yes, if things were different such as a 1 nurse to 4 patients ratio with consistant CNA support, I probably would still be there.

I'd also like to add to your comment about wanting a nurse taking care of you who actually wants to be there.

If I were a patient on a floor, I would not want to be one of his/her 8 other patients that night with no CNA or unit clerk help on top of it, no matter how good of a nurse he/she might be or whether or not they actually liked working the floors.

[anapurnas]

I say go straight into what you want. I started in the ED as a new grad and met some resistance from the other nurses there who did M/S first (why are nurses always trying to bring each other down? another topic...)and they thought new grads in the ED would put patients' safety at risk. However, when I finally started working and proved I could be a good ER nurse, they kind of backed off...at least most of them. M/S doesn't prepare you for specifically ED work except in learning how to drop NG tubes etc. But that's easy to learn. Working in the ED is a whole different way of thinking, and I love if for that reason. I am considered a great ED nurse by my colleagues and employers, and never did M/S first. I hated it too;)

The ER is so fun, and I wouldn't do anything else if that's what you want to do. However, I will echo a previous person's advice in that orientation is very important. Never work in an ED or ICU without a comprehensive, long orientation or you WILL end up being a risk to your patients' safety. Of course, any M/S nurse going into ED would have to do some orientationa s well, but as a new grad, make sure yours is especially thorough. Mine was, and I loved it.

Good luck!

[HHW2006]

I will be graduating in May and starting out in ICU. I also am not very fond of med-surg!!! I say, if you know what you want GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

Best of luck to you!