So, a friend and I were discussing our plans after we graduate. I feel that I would like to enter Specialty nursing (CCU/ICU) She says that all new grad should do at least a year on the floor before specializing. I think that is insane! I have absolutly no desire for floor nursing. My feeling is if you work the floor for a year and learn the "floor way of nursing", you have to learn specialty nusing all over. My point is,people say you have to learn how to prioritize, but isnt any type of nursing you enter ABOUT prioritizing? I dont understand why people insist that you must start off on the floor?
OMG 7 or 8 patients, you make it dsound like lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
My 28 years of Nursing is talking right now.
You will be left in other nurses dust your entire clinical life if you do not spend time on a med surg unit, learning how to organize your time, cuz GUESS WHAT, YOU WILL GET FLOATED OUT TO THE FLOOR, MORE THAN YOU REALIZE, but hey what do I know, I just teach Nursing in a BSN program. I am taking this semester off to go back to the bedside. See that is a smart thing to do every 3 years or so.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
just remember, med-surg nursing IS a speciality and treat it as such....
and to answer your question, nope, I did NOT do the "requisite year" of med/surg nursing before entering OB after graduation.
But if you plan to enter ICU/CCU BEST MAKE DURN SURE THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD RESIDENCY /PRECEPTORSHIP program at the hospital you plan to work---- And the PRECEPTORS need to be nurses dedicated to this task, not just forced in one way or the other to add this to their LONG list of responsiblities. Trust me. Or else, you may find yourself "lost" and "in deep doo doo" in an area that is not for everyone, after all.
But if you plan to enter ICU/CCU BEST MAKE DURN SURE THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD RESIDENCY /PRECEPTORSHIP program at the hospital you plan to And the PRECEPTORS need to be nurses dedicated to this task, not just forced in one way or the other to add this to their LONG list of responsiblities.
I totally agree with your point! As you know, a good preceptor is hard to find and it goes for ALL areas of nursing not just ICU. That is one of my biggests fears, not having a dedicated preceptor:o ....so I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there....
OMG 7 or 8 patients, you make it dsound like lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
My 28 years of Nursing is talking right now.
28 yrs! Congrats to you! A newbie like myself....well yea! It is lions and tigers and bears!! Nevermind the whole Nurses eat their young bit...shoot, 7-8 pts would EAT ME alive!!! lol
When I first graduated college, I went into peds nursing and after a year and a half, I went into adult med-surg. First of all, let me say that Med-Surg is a specialty in its own right. There is a lot more to it than giving meds and taking of 7-8 patients. You need special assessment skills and a knowledge base to perform in med-surg and it is not some generic or basic nursing that anyone can do or that people who have no other skills or talent do. That is how it has been treated over the years and many nurses have left the floor with their tails between their legs after learning that the hard way.
Having said that, I don't think that it is necessary to do a year on the floor first. You will be in a learning mode either way and if it is your intention to go into critical care and stay there then I see no point on your starting out on the floor. And in 12 years of nursing, I have never worked with someone who worked the unit and then returned to the floor. Never.
OMG 7 or 8 patients, you make it dsound like lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Speaking here as a Med-Surg nurse for almost 10 years, your statement above kind of got my dander up. Having 7-8 patients IS like lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Some nights, 3 patients can be lions and tigers and bears, oh my! depending on their acuity and problems they may be having. Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying, but ever since management said we would be having 6-7 patients on each shift (I work 3-11), it's been a challenge to continue giving good care while running ragged most days I work. I still don't want to work anywhere else, but you made having 7-8 patients sound like it's no big deal when it certainly is .
Such a sad state of affairs. Nursing school taught me the basics of medsurg nursing...it was my longest and hardest rotation.
Yes, medsurg is tough work. But I know nurses who would do nothing else. If one goes through life always taking the easy road it does catch up eventually.
I look at ICU as a natural extension of medsurg...a more indepth level of care. If you don't like medsurg why do you think you'll like ICU?? Because it's only 2 patients? Well, it is MORE than that....
There are always those nurses who will tell you they went to a specialty area and did OK. Well, I can give examples of MANY OTHERS who felt thrown to the wolves and bailed, or did OK in the specialty but in a few years wanted a change and couldn't hack another unit...they never solidified their basics and had difficulty functioning elsewhere.
I agree with Stella's teacher's quote regarding fulfilling the need for warm bodies. I see it going on all the time.
Even with a good internship program the new grad places her license at considerable risk in ICU, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being truthful.
There is only so much the other nurses can give to you. And if a new grad's needs become a huge burden to overworked staff the new grad will feel that pressure.
I'm not saying it cannot be done, I'm saying it is not without its own pitfalls.
Count me as an ICU oldtimer who likes knowing my new orientee is a solid medsurg nurse....I'll orient him/her anytime. In my 27 yrs experience, they make the BEST ICU nurses.
There have been numerous discussions along this line, if you do a search. Sounds like you have already made your decision....if so you have been forewarned here.
Personally I would recommend a larger hospital with a new grad internship program, some stepdown experience at least, THEN a critical care internship...one with a good reputation.
Good luck in your future endeavors, whatever they may be. :)
I am a M/S nurse, Have been one almost 18 years. Think it is the place to start and where lots of action is all of the time. If you know you hate M/S then go for what you love. Be forewarned, every hospital wants to fill spaces with "warm bodies" it's called the nursing shortage. Just be ready to learn all you can learn from the preceptor, ask questions, do extra reading, and observe all new procdures you can when you can. Good Luck.
OK... have been doing oupatient dialysis clinic for the past 6 years.. five of them as a dialysis tech. Not even an RN a full year now, and already chomping at the bit to do some "real" nursing !
Sooooooo... next week I start orientation on med/surge at a nearby hosp. in NC to eventually do some PRN there to fill that void. As much as I LOVE dialysis and my patients there, I have a hunger to do and learn MORE. I miss the days of "corpsmanship" many moons ago in the AF where I worked the med/surge floor and that true desire to be a REAL NURSE SOMEDAY took hold.
So now, many years later, I am that "real nurse". But what we do in dialysis is so limited and dialysis specific, I still long for the hospital setting and "general nursing"... FLOOR nursing, where you get a little bit of everything, and learn so MUCH about "everything" !!! YES, I say THREE CHEERS and HIP HIP HURRAY to med/surge nurses... and hold them in highest esteem.
Now.... (that I've buttered you up) ...will you be my mentors as I fumble my way through this learning experience? It has been sooooooooooooo long since I've worked in a hospital setting, and quite truthfully, it is getting scary as next week approaches.
I want so much to learn all I can, and be all I can, and give all I can.... and yet I just KNOW I'm going to feel SO incompetent !!! Will they understand that although I am an RN, I still am truly a "new grad" with ZERO med/surge abilities? Will they be patient with me, and not be annoyed with my many questions? Things like all the various meds we DON'T use in dialysis... the many titres and drips, etc., etc... these things are scary to me.
(Yes, one of you had mentioned the IV Meds 2004 book... have already ordered it and it should be here next week!)
Well, I guess I just don't want to be a BURDEN to those I'll be working with... may I come and spill my heart here on your med/surge forum from time to time...?
OK... have been doing oupatient dialysis clinic for the past 6 years.. five of them as a dialysis tech. Not even an RN a full year now, and already chomping at the bit to do some "real" nursing !
Sooooooo... next week I start orientation on med/surge at a nearby hosp. in NC to eventually do some PRN there to fill that void. As much as I LOVE dialysis and my patients there, I have a hunger to do and learn MORE. I miss the days of "corpsmanship" many moons ago in the AF where I worked the med/surge floor and that true desire to be a REAL NURSE SOMEDAY took hold.
So now, many years later, I am that "real nurse". But what we do in dialysis is so limited and dialysis specific, I still long for the hospital setting and "general nursing"... FLOOR nursing, where you get a little bit of everything, and learn so MUCH about "everything" !!! YES, I say THREE CHEERS and HIP HIP HURRAY to med/surge nurses... and hold them in highest esteem.
Now.... (that I've buttered you up) ...will you be my mentors as I fumble my way through this learning experience? It has been sooooooooooooo long since I've worked in a hospital setting, and quite truthfully, it is getting scary as next week approaches.
I want so much to learn all I can, and be all I can, and give all I can.... and yet I just KNOW I'm going to feel SO incompetent !!! Will they understand that although I am an RN, I still am truly a "new grad" with ZERO med/surge abilities? Will they be patient with me, and not be annoyed with my many questions? Things like all the various meds we DON'T use in dialysis... the many titres and drips, etc., etc... these things are scary to me.
(Yes, one of you had mentioned the IV Meds 2004 book... have already ordered it and it should be here next week!)
Well, I guess I just don't want to be a BURDEN to those I'll be working with... may I come and spill my heart here on your med/surge forum from time to time...?
Thanx for listening... thanx for caring. :kiss
Welcome aboard and thanks for the kind words! (Flattery will get you everywhere! ) I have a real heart for new nurses because my early nursing years were tough and almost a constant struggle for many reasons. It helps me to feel that my own "suffering" was somewhat worth it if I can help others who are new and struggling. I wish I'd had a mentor or this BB to help me through, although I had a loving support system in family, friends, and my faith. You can PM me any time or start threads here and I know we will be there for you! Good luck, jnette! :kiss
Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.
Hello! I started out a little over a year ago as a new grad in critical care. I love it. I had a great orientation and a very supportive staff that actually believes in teamwork. I know they respect me as a nurse and as part of the team. Since I have been there there have been four other new grads, the one that came in with me went to work in tele, the three from this year are still in orientation so we will see if they float on their own (their preceptors think they will do okay). I have also seen seasoned med surg nurses come through. Some are still working and some went back to their previous positions in med surg areas. My point with that is that as a new grad, you can do it. Just because you have med surg experience does not mean that you will make it or even like it. I can certainly see how the clinical observation skills would be important and sometimes think what would have happened if I had done med surg first. That though last for only a brief moment and I am glad that I took the road that I did. I love where I work, I love the technology, the autonomy, and knowing my patients. I enjoy the realtionship that I have with the doctors. Not that I want to argue with those that have been nurses for at least half of my lifespan (not implying that anyone is old here :) ) but I disagree with the poster that said that those without medsurg expereince will be left in the dust their entire clinical lives because we will float...I think that left in the dust might be a bit strong...it is a different type of nursing and organization for sure, but certainly not undoable (or easy...not a job I would want every day tho, thank god for those who love these areas). Anyway, I don't want to start any wars here...I can see how expereince prior to and ICU area would be valuable, but it is doable straight from school, be a open to learning, study hard, and do as much as you can. Follow your heart to the area that want to work in, there are lots of options!
Nevermind the whole Nurses eat their young bit...shoot, 7-8 pts would EAT ME alive!!! lol
...will you be my mentors as I fumble my way through this learning experience? It has been sooooooooooooo long since I've worked in a hospital setting, and quite truthfully, it is getting scary as next week approaches.
Welcome aboard and thanks for the kind words! (Flattery will get you everywhere! 
meandragonbrett
2,438 Posts
All 17 hospitals in my metro/suburban area is willing to hire new grads into the various ICUs.