officially beginning RN career in Med/Surg

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Hey everyone! i am so excited to begin the new year as a med/surg nurse! Exactly what I wanted! So excited and ready to learn (with or without a curve ;) haha).

I have been reading these forums since i began nursing school and haven't stopped now...

please feel free to offer any advice in regards to what it takes and what I should def be doing the first few months on the floor

.... I found a list of tips on an older forum....

so feel free to add to them or give your 2 cents...

1. NEVER doubt your own assessment, even if you were told in report everything was fine

2. Protect your IV lines! Flush them at the start of each shift. Check them AT LEAST every four hours, AT LEAST hourly if a vesicant is infusing.

3. Admit you don't know before you try to wing it

4. Do NOT apologize for calling a physician

5. Learn the signs of delirium. When those signs definitively appear, check vitals, a blood sugar and bladder scan the patient. Also check if a recent UA & culture, or blood cultures have been sent. You could save a life!

6. Remember that tech and clerk duties are your responsibility even if they are not your JOB

7. When you have to pee and do a million other things at work, pee first. Unless you're in a code. :)

8. Learn which of your fellow nurses are more helpful and knowledgeable, and make sure to repay them with your assistance.

9. WRITE IT DOWN, even if you are certain you'll remember

10. It's okay to laugh and cry with your patients. Really.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Get you a good "brain" sheet and a med sheet if needed. Definitely a good brain sheet though. I personally made my own with Windows word. I use a separate sheet for each patient's info (name, MD, admitting diagnosis, allergies, IV/tubes, etc) and then I use a separate sheet with med time slots for five patients plus a spot to check off when I've charted my full assessment, care plans, etc! Good luck and don't worry, it will be a bumpy ride for at least the first year! :nailbiting:

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Definitely! My hospital its total care so I need to make sure to stay on top of everything with my organization paper...thank you! :)

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Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.

Med-Surg is a specialty that can work you into the ground but you will learn so much. You won't know what bone tired means until you've spent a day running around the floor on a busy day. I have been in this specialty for 2 years and I still am building my skills and knowledge base. It is also busier than you can imagine and will test your time management skills. The biggest thing is that the first year to 1.5 years you may be a nervous wreck and feel like you can't do this job. Keep pushing through, you may want to quit but if you can survive here you can survive anywhere. And if I can make it, you can make it. Good luck and welcome to the profession and the med-surg specialty.

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Wow thank you so much for your support! i appreciate it

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Be open minded. You really can learn something from everyone. Ask questions. Don't let the culture of a unit stop you from doing what's right. If you have no idea what's going on, don't let your patient know that...keep it together and get help. Realize you are going to be overwhelmed, just go with it. It gets better, promise! GL! Welcome to the best career in the world ♡

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Dont jump ship unless you give it a year! Youre going to be overwhelmed for the first few months but eventually it does click and youll feel better about everything!!!! 👍😊

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Thank you for starting this! I start working on a surgical unit next month. In my last semester of nursing school, I was with a preceptor on this very same floor. Since I will be more "on my own", I am loving the suggestions. Do any of y'all carry a clipboard?

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
Thank you for starting this! I start working on a surgical unit next month. In my last semester of nursing school, I was with a preceptor on this very same floor. Since I will be more "on my own", I am loving the suggestions. Do any of y'all carry a clipboard?

I personally carry a mini clipboard with my brain sheets and extra brain sheets and med sheets that I leave at the nursing station. I carry my med sheet on me folded up and cross off things as I go. As a new grad I carried my clipboard with me for a few months (and laugh to myself as I watch new grads doing so now) there's not anything wrong with carry it with if you can keep track of the stupid thing! Lose it a few times and you may give up carrying it because it's not worth the frustration of spending precious time backtracking to find it! Once you get comfortable in your nursing skin you'll realize that everything you need is a few key strokes away anyways, unless you're in bedside report...good luck :up:

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I just did a response to a similar thread on a new grad in a tele unit, I'll re post in case any of those tips apply :)

1. Be a sponge in your orientation and preceptorship. Ask tonnes of questions and make sure during this time you act as "the nurse" not "the student" who is following the nurse.

2. If your facility doesn't provide it, do an EKG and ACLS course.

3. Find out the most common types of patients your unit sees, go home and study these. Yes, homework after you graduate!

4. Review your cardiac anatomy and physiology.

5. Be organised! Get to work 10 minutes early. Look up labs. Check your monitors. Check charts. That way when you receive report you'll already have built a small picture of your patients, their acuity and how your shift will be planned out.

6. Make a brain sheet specific to your unit and your needs (a quick search on this forum). This will help you plan your day and help you in report.

7. If your unit utilises CNA/techs, work WITH them. Don't be the new grad RN who is above "aid work". Work as a team and your shift will run much smoother.

8. Invest in a good pair of running shoes as you will me RUNNING in a tele unit. Also a good stethoscope, 4 in 1 pen and sharpie.

9. Don't compare yourself to experienced nurses. They are experienced, you are not. They are going to be faster and more competent.

10. Realise that this will be a tough few months, but every new grad experiences the stress/anxiety of working. Push through and you'll be fine.

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