New nurses getting out of bedside nursing

RN34TX · Nov 19, 2005

I understand what you're getting at with your thread, but as a PACU nurse, I'm not understanding how you've categorized it as a non-bedside nursing specialty.

Getting back to your thread, I do think that if people were to start their career in places like PACU (Although I don't know any who got in as new grads) it could have a lot of handicaps but.......

I've never been one to believe in the much outdated "you need to start in Med/Surg before moving on to other places."

To me, those statements need to be thrown out with the white nurse's hats.

I did start in Med/Surg and it helped me when I moved to ICU, which in turn helped me when I moved to PACU.

Was it totally necessary to go that route in my career?

Heck no, I was just a lot easier to orient than the new grad when I moved to ICU, and as an ICU nurse, I was easier to orient than the nurse who came from Med/Surg or day surgery when I moved to PACU.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 19, 2005

It's a big world, nursing. People ideally should choose the areas that best suit them. Some of us managed very well in "speciality" areas w/o a day in med surg after school. Not everyone belongs in med-surg. I admire those who are.

pie123 · Nov 19, 2005

I understand what you're getting at with your thread, but as a PACU nurse, I'm not understanding how you've categorized it as a non-bedside nursing specialty.
Getting back to your thread, I do think that if people were to start their career in places like PACU (Although I don't know any who got in as new grads) it could have a lot of handicaps but.......
I've never been one to believe in the much outdated "you need to start in Med/Surg before moving on to other places."
To me, those statements need to be thrown out with the white nurse's hats.
I did start in Med/Surg and it helped me when I moved to ICU, which in turn helped me when I moved to PACU.
Was it totally necessary to go that route in my career?
Heck no, I was just a lot easier to orient than the new grad when I moved to ICU, and as an ICU nurse, I was easier to orient than the nurse who came from Med/Surg or day surgery when I moved to PACU.

I guess when I say bedside nursing, I'm referring to areas that I have heard of classified as such: GI lab, Same Day surgery. My mistake in referring to PACU as non-bedside nursing. I worked with a nurse who was transferring to PACU, and she told me that she would be glad to get away from "Bedside nursing." Poor choice of words on my part...sorry.

krisssy · Nov 19, 2005

I have read a lot of threads about this, and I was thinking about it in my car the other day. We are living in a world of specialized medicine. My friend's son went to medical school and right to an internship and then residency in surgery. I didn't see him have to do a year of general medicine before starting his specialty as a surgeon. He went right from med school to surgery. So why can't a nurse go straight from nursing school to whatever specialty he or she wants? IMO this one year of med surg thing has gone out the window a long time ago. In my area, I see ads for new graduates to be trained in all kinds of specialty areas, and I think that's great. I, personally, am going from nursing school to school nursing to psych nursing with more than a few years in between as a teacher. lol Good luck to all new graduates learning their own specialties in areas that are suited to them. I think we do best in areas that we are happy in. Krisssy RN MA

allnurses Guide · Nov 19, 2005

I agree that the idea you should do your time in med/surg before moving on to a speciality area is outdated.

I know plenty of nurses who went right into NICU, ICU, CCU, etc., and did very well.

Like Deb said - it is a big wide world out there in nursing.

steph

pie123 · Nov 19, 2005

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I am a new grad who is also considering one of these transitions, maybe in a year or so. Thanks again.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2005

If you touch a patient you are direct care. If all you do is assess paperwork you are not direct care.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2005

But in reality everyone starts somewhere...find a place that works for you right now and do your best. Good luck and best wishes to all the new nurses in this world...WE NEED YOU.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 20, 2005

Not a nurse, but it does make sense to allow people to choose the area they want to practice in. No one wants to work in dissatisfying conditions.

RN34TX · Nov 20, 2005

Not a nurse, but it does make sense to allow people to choose the area they want to practice in. No one wants to work in dissatisfying conditions.

Dissatisfying conditions?

That would cancel out most staff nurse positions. :chuckle

Remember, you want to keep your options open and expecting satisfying working conditions would definitely limit one's job opportunities.

KacyLynnRN · Nov 20, 2005

I agree with others who state that it is no longer important to be in Med/Surg for a year or so before moving on to a specialty area. At least, that hasn't been the case with my situation. I was an LPN for 3 years, spent all 3 in Med/Surg. Now I have been an RN, still in Med/Surg, since June. I am looking for an occupational health job or a job in a walk-in immediate care clinic. It has been very difficult for me, basically every job I apply for I lose out to someone who has previous experience in that specialty area. I wish I had spent less time in Med/Surg and just gone straight for what I really wanted. While it has given me a great base of experience, I am now 'stuck' in Med/Surg, which I am totally burnt out on, while I cross my fingers and hope to eventually get into occupational or immediate care.

My advice is, if you know what area you want to work in, and find someone willing to train you, go for it! If you decide you want to do med/surg one day, believe me, it will always be there.

Kacy