will i be missing out in rehab?

[R.NICU]

Hi everyone :)

I'm nearing the end of my third semester of nursing school (one more semester to go, yes!) And I'm looking into my prospective opportunities as a new grad. I want to work in the NICU more than anything, second choice is PICU or peds floors, and lastly, rehab :). I live in the phoenix metro area. They produce more nursing new grads than anywhere else in the U.S. I believe. As a result, the market is saturated and most places aren't hiring many new grads.....so, I currently work in an acute rehab hospital. The chief nursing officer has stated that she is more than willing to give me a position :), but my fellow RN co-workers are telling me that I should work in a more acute area so I can learn a lot more. What am I missing out on? I mean, we get all kinds of stuff: SCI, TBI, CVA,MI, CABG, BKA, AKA, quads, paras, deconditioning, MS, myasthenia gravis, burns, laminectomies, bla bla bla you get the picture. I can see myself getting experience with dressing changes, passing a lot of PO meds, assessment, urinary catheters, occassional IV fluids and antibiotx, I've seen blood maybe twice in 8 months, TPN twice, lots of enteral feedings, ppl with CVADs, especially piccs. So to me, it seems similar to med/surg without all the IVs. Med/surg lite I guess. The nurses don't administer IV pushes at all. Obviously there are other things I'd be exposed to in med/surg but ugh! I couldn't stand med/surg.

Anyway, do you think I would be hindering a tremendous amount of knowledge by staying in rehab? Would I be missing out on a lot? I don't want to ever work med/surg or adults at all for that matter, except for in the rehab aspect :).

Give me your thoughts people.

[caliotter3]

In the long run, you will become more proficient at any area when you are working there and you will be less than proficient in the other areas. While many nurses progress from one area to another throughout their careers, it is impossible to work in all of them. In today's economy, it is important to get a position. You have been promised one. You are already one step ahead of the majority of your classmates. Just because you accept this offered position does not mean that you must cease your attempts to get hired in your desired area. Good luck.

[MauraRN]

I work an acute rehab inpatient unit. Day shift is when all of the "rehab" is done; PT, OT, SLP. Second and third shift are just like the med-surg units, without the unit secretary. When one of our unit's RN has to float to med-surg, it is really easier for us because we see such a variety of issues. I work 2nd and 3rd shift. Not a bad unit to start your career in light of the job shortage. You will develop good assessment skills, see lots of different meds and treatments and get your magical one year experience.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Take it. We really are nurses even if we're not in hoapitals. :)

[AtomicWoman]

I'm a new grad in acute rehab., in a TBI unit. I don't get to do much with IVs as most of our patients do not require IVs. Our lab does all the blood draws, too. I also don't get to do blood transfusions. But I am learning a lot about assessment, psychosocial skills, how to handle an agitated patient, trach care, wound care, tube feedings, etc. And boy, can I deliver medications through a Peg tube now! :) Our patients get a lot of medications, so I'm learning a lot about meds, too. Documentation is the same as it is anywhere else, with the addition of FIM scores. In rehab you'll probably do more transfers (from bed to wheelchair, etc.) than on a regular med/surg unit, so you'll get good at keeping your patients *safe* while they move. You'll still hone your "gut instinct", as sometimes patients are transferred out emergently, and you'll need to know when they are "going south" so you can get help for them asap. Rehab patients can have a lot of comorbidities, so you'll also learn a lot about diseases and disorders. Like someone else said, every specialty area has certain skills that are required and certain skills that are not used much, if at all. I chose rehab because I like the model of nursing in acute rehab. I still do. :)

[jjened]

I have worked in rehab for 6 years now, previously I worked Cardiac step down/telemetry, before that renal/dialysis and before that oncology. I also have worked psychiatry, medicine, surgery and some ER/ICU pickups.

I thought I had a fair knowledge base before I got to rehab, but frankly it has opened up a whole new world of nursing for me, and I see clients differently now.

Are you going to miss out? Not on your life

[syckRN]

Dear jjened: You do have a "whole bunch" of experience lady. Wow. Nice that you are so encouraging of others! Thanks for a positive post.

SyckRN