psych/med surg

dream'n, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

It certainly counts as experience, albeit as part time. I wish I had your energy, 5 12s a week would kill me

elkpark · Dec 3, 2015

Of course that would "count" as med-surg experience. However, working 5 12s would be setting yourself up to burn out pretty quickly. People fought and died back in the day in order to only have to work 40 hours/week, and there are good reasons why. Also, you would have to find a job with a second, separate employer to pick up those extra med-surg shifts, as no employer is going to be willing pay you 24 hrs/week overtime on a regular, planned basis. If you don't mind putting yourself in an early grave and you're confident you can successfully juggle two different schedules with two different employers, I imagine it can be done, but I sure wouldn't recommend it.

wayemika · Dec 5, 2015

You would think so. Our hospital is extremely short on staff. Many of us work 4-5 shifts a week. Some nurses often do 6. Lots of people work psych and med surg. Or ICU and L&D. Or like med surg and ER and so on because the hospital is so short and can never keep staff. It has been this way since I started, that's why I wonder if we can count the experience ?

Therhapsody89 · Dec 5, 2015

I was able to secure a full time med surg job with my float experience to med surg and er while working full time psych. Make friends, you'll need those references later!!

wayemika · Dec 8, 2015

thats what i decided on doing. the director on our med surg cardiac floor adores me. If i dont transfer to her floor i will at least use her as a reference

Therhapsody89 · Dec 13, 2015

If you don't get hired in that floor, take just about anything med-surg to get your foot in the door. Once you gain more experience you can always transfer to a better position. Good luck!

wayemika · Dec 15, 2015

I got the job PRN. they like that I have over 2K hours logged in med surg on the general/cardiac/renal and neurology units combined. it will be great to have another hospital to work in and see the difference in how its ran.

blackribbon · Dec 25, 2015

I am a med/surg nurse that floated to the psych floor as needed. I absolutely have both on my resume. Now, the psych unit is at a different hospital than my primary job and isn't as frequent but I just list it as a contingent position.

Keep track of your real hours on each unit. Yes, you are both a psych nurse and a med/surg nurse. And I don't know how you do it for 60 hours a week. The hospital doesn't treat it like two different jobs does it? You are getting overtime for the two med/surg shifts, correct?

LisalaRN99, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2015

I admire your stamina! Take care you don't burn out!!

Having said that, I think to keep yourself fresh in med/surg while working psych will serve you well in your career!

wayemika · Dec 30, 2015

thank you. I have started to keep track of my hours on each unit. working 4-5 shifts a week can be tough sometimes but i could really use the extra money right now to pay off my car and student loans. I really like the fact that its two different jobs and I get some variety. It helps keep me from burning out. Plus its helping me to see if i want to go for FNP or Psych NP. what the psychiatrist go through as well as the psych NP is crazy. it scares me from wanting to do it sometimes