Options or No Options?

[mrcleanscrubs, BSN, RN]

Hello Everyone!

I am a senior nursing student at a university in New York.

I will start applying to hospitals in Manhattan towards the middle/end of the Fall Semester.

I would really like to start with Hematology-Oncology or on a Cardiac Unit; however, I was talked into the idea that I should work on a Medical Surgical Unit first to gain experience. Which I do think is a great idea - my question for you all is, are there options when applying for a Med Surg Unit?

For example, would I be able to apply for a Cardiac/Telemetry Med Surg Unit?

Or is Med Surg just Med Surg, and you get everything?

Thank You!

[KeepinitrealCCRN]

med/surg is a general category. most med/surg floors specialize in certain pt populations like oncology or neuro etc. in my hospital telemetry is under the umbrella of critical care because you have less pts than med/surg and you are required to now cardiac rhythms, meds and procedures etc. although generally speaking i believe telemetry is more of an intermediate/stepdown type of unit. on telemetry you will get a mix of pts but the general theme will be the heart even if they come in with something else. if they have a cardiac history they will most likely require cardiac monitoring and will be admitted to a tele floor. also as i mentioned an oncology floor would be considered med/surg but most of the pts will be oncology pts which may be what you are interested in.

[mrcleanscrubs, BSN, RN]

SICUmurseCCRN, BSN, RN ,

Thank you for your informative reply! It sounds to me that Med Surg units have a focus per floor. I'm looking to work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I'm assuming that each floor is divided by body system(urology, neurology, hepato/renal), they would still count as med surg units, right?

I'm looking to get the most med surg experience during the 3 years I attend my DNP program.

Thank you again!