I've got one more year of nursing school, and currently am planning on working for two years in med/surg before deciding what to do next. I understand there are two camps -- the "old fashioned" folks who think what I'm planning is a "must" for most nurses -- especially those like me with no previous clinical background. Then there are those who think that's irrelevant, and you should just go directly into what interests you -- like critical care or labor and delivery, etc.
On the "pro" side, the general argument is that you get a wide array of medical conditions to work with when you do med/surg first, and you really learn the "fundamentals" of nursing. On the "con" side, I've heard people say if you really know what you want, why waste time doing something else.
Not in my opinion. None of my profs seem to think it neccessary either. I'm a new grad in the ICU. I say go for what makes you happy. Most hospitals have great new grad orientations and if they dont run far far away.
I worked med-surg/stepdown for 2 years prior to my transfer into ICU. I feel that the previous 2 years gave me solid footing on assessment skills, time management, prioritization, working with patient families, exposure to procedures, timely med administration and a working knowledge of many common medications, along with how to interact and work with my peers such as NA, other nurses and physicians.
That said there were things I had to learn on the unit, such as invasive lines, pressors, different modes of ventilations, arterial sticks, etc. But my preceptors were able to go into more depth with the advanced procedures since I already had the basics.
My particular unit, is in a large teaching facility, that is a referal hospital for the entire state along with several surrounding states. Therefore we get VERY sick people in this unit, our success rate with new grads is only about 50%.
The reality is that everyone is different. What works for some doesn't work for others.
I'm in a similair boat. I will graduate in four months and do not know what I want to do. I do know I fell in love with L&D and I hate Med/Surg. I want to eventually work in NICU but I am having trouble finding a hospital willing to give a GN a chance in anything but Med/Surg. How do I get my foot in the door without going through a year of Med/Surg? I need some advice, please.
I'm in a similair boat. I will graduate in four months and do not know what I want to do. I do know I fell in love with L&D and I hate Med/Surg. I want to eventually work in NICU but I am having trouble finding a hospital willing to give a GN a chance in anything but Med/Surg. How do I get my foot in the door without going through a year of Med/Surg? I need some advice, please.
imo, they always tell the new gns to do med surg bc that's where the biggest needs are. they hope they can get a good percentage of these new nurses coming out of school to do some time in m/s before going off to critical care or l&d, where nurses stay on for years.
have you ever heard of a nurse leaving l&d or icu for med surg?
at my hospital - the MOST travelers are in the medical unit. (the surgical is a separate unit) After the 8 wk stint, they transfer up to CCU or ICU. I work as a float tech - RN student and have experienced each unit (ED, ICU, CCU, PACU, postpartum, Medical, Surgical) except Peds and do NOT want to work in Medical. It seems to be just a glorified SNIF - but my lab partner at school loves it and wants to work there after graduation. I want to work in ICU or CCU when I graduate - and know I can get my capstone in SR2 nursing at a big teaching hospital that will hire me after graduation.
I totally agree with Anagray - shadow/work as a float on every floor so you can see what you don't want, before you decide what you do want.
Do New Grads Miss Anything by NOT STARTING in MED/SURG? I have an interview for step-down Cardiac Critical Care, which of course is less intense than Cardiac ICU itself.....BUT: will I be foreclosing certain career options in the future due to having skipped Med/Surg? Will a Visiting Nurse Service or Doctor's Office REFUSE to consider me since I never did the standard first year in Med/Surg where a lot of shots/IVs/manual blood pressures are done??? Thanks everybody. This site is terrific--I'm finally getting around to becoming a dues-paying member---This site has been of immense help BEFORE & DURING Nursing School...and NOW that I'll be studying for the NCLEX and interviewing, I'm sure it'll be just as great! I love being a part of the nurse community--Thanks to the Moderators and all participants on this site!
NO! That idea came from some ancient line of bullhonkey from a bunch of decrepid nurses who drank urine to test for glucose, and still think you have to torture students and eat your young new nurses on med-surg during year one. Go where you want, go where you heart is calling you! A step-down unit is an excellent place to start, and no you will not be less marketable if you skip med-surg. Cardiac nurses with a year of experience are indispensable. You will learn everything you need to know in cardiac step-down anyhow. Now pull up your boot-straps and buy your Critical Care pocket companion, and get your ACLS and know your heart drugs and cardiac rhythms, and BE HAPPY! Whew, I feel inspired. :pumpiron:
NO! That idea came from some ancient line of bullhonkey from a bunch of decrepid nurses who drank urine to test for glucose, and still think you have to torture students and eat your young new nurses on med-surg during year one. Go where you want, go where you heart is calling you! A step-down unit is an excellent place to start, and no you will not be less marketable if you skip med-surg. Cardiac nurses with a year of experience are indispensable. You will learn everything you need to know in cardiac step-down anyhow. Now pull up your boot-straps and buy your Critical Care pocket companion, and get your ACLS and know your heart drugs and cardiac rhythms, and BE HAPPY! Whew, I feel inspired. :pumpiron:
I've asked several of my teachers this question, and every one of them was against the school of thought that everyone should do time in med-surg. I know a lot of people that HATED med-surg clinicals and that would probably just burn them out and throw them out of nursing really quickly. As for me, I have NO IDEA what I want to do and while I didn't love med-surg, my favorite rotation was on a surgical floor so I may do that. I think I'm more concerned about the work environment than the actual work as it's all the same to me right now.
That's me, I hated, hated, hated medical floor on my clinical rotations...cant wait till last semester is over with so I will never have to go back....
GrnHonu99, RN
1,459 Posts
Not in my opinion. None of my profs seem to think it neccessary either. I'm a new grad in the ICU. I say go for what makes you happy. Most hospitals have great new grad orientations and if they dont run far far away.