Should every new grad nurse start out on the Med/Surg floor?

rpbear · Mar 7, 2008

I think you will find that a lot of us did not start out on med/surg. I started on L&D, I love it! You have to find the right hospital that will hire new grads into something other than Med/surg. Good luck and follow your heart!!!

graceomalleyRN, RN · Mar 7, 2008

rpbear, I have some questions too hope you don't mind answering them! :)

how hard was it to start out in l&d?

How long was your orientation?

How many do you care for at once?

What's a typical night like?

Thanks!!

Michelle

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2008

A lot of people will say its the right thing to do but it really depends on where you want to be in 2-5 years. If you plan on being in a totally unrelated field, then go for what you want to specialize in. I have plenty of friends who went straight into their specialty of choice, many of them before they were even licensed (student nurse apprentice/extern jobs). I decided to do telemetry for a few years before possibly going into critical care because I want to learn the patho, rhythms and meds better before throwing myself in too deep, but that's just my personality. I'd like to get really good at one thing before moving on to the higher level of difficulty, however, some people would rather get straight to it. You just have to find out what's best for you. Heck I even know people who started out in the ED and then went to floor nursing just to get better time management skills. Really, the possibilities are endless!!

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 7, 2008

Nurses once generally worked med-surg as new grads from lack of choice. Med-surg or long term care(usually the least popular shifts) were the only ones who hired new grads back when there was no nursing shortage.

That simplified the issue of where to start.

My advice: If the hospital has an extensive orientation and preceptorship for a specialty area, go there. Otherwise, start in med-surg.

cjmjmom · Mar 7, 2008

Start in the area you want to start in and do not worry about what others may say. From what I understand there are many places where orientations are not exactly all that they are supposed to be so to be safe always know what it is you don't know and ask for assistance. Good luck to you!

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2008

Nursing offers so much, if you have one specialty area that you just love go there if you can. Med/surg does give you time management skills but it can be frustrating. You can move around in nursing from one specialty to another as the positions open up and your interests change. I have moved around in nursing for the last 16 years and loved every place and specialty when I was there. When I became restless I just moved on to another position. I am traveling now and feel that all those moves gave me the experience to travel comfortably.

shellsgogreen · Mar 7, 2008

i agree with the others - if there's an area that you have your heart set on, and the hospital offers a great program, go for it.

only reason i started in medsurg was basically b/c i am still deciding what area i want to focus on - i've been working four months, and figure i can sharpen my skills while i search for an area that really intrigues me.

best of luck in whatever you decide to do

meandragonbrett · Mar 7, 2008

Nope. I'd quit nursing if I was FORCED to work med/surg just because I was a new grad. I'd much rather sit in an office all day.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2008

I actually started out as a new grad in ICU, and I feel it was the best thing I could have done. Main reason--I only have 2 no more than 3 patients. I do full care, I know my patients and this history well. They practically have my undivided attention.

Alot of my nursing school friends took jobs on Med Surg units. 2 months after passing their boards they have 7-8 patients a shift. If they work nights they dont get an aide. So on top of taking care of all these patients, they are also passing water, assisting to the bathrooms, etc etc etc. How can a new nurse possibly take care of 8 patients by herself? The med passes are crazy. Keeping track of the labs/orders/the families of 8 patients/charting x8!!!! etc etc etc.

Yes my patients more require more medical intervention, yet I am learning so very much because I have the time to learn it.

I honestly dont think I could keep up with 8 patients with out forgetting something, and since I am new, I may not even realize I forgot it.

My advice is if you can--go specialty.

presuppose · Mar 7, 2008

I started in a pediatric ICU and 'flunked', then reevaluated if I really wanted to stay in nursing and when to rehab where I learned basic body mechanics and all that stuff you learn in Med-Surg. Did that for 2 years and worked my way into ICU within 2 more years.

Yes, Med-Surg is a great way to begin. You either love it and stay or hate it, learn what you need and move on.

Galore · Mar 7, 2008

The majority of my classmates are getting hired into specialties straight ouf of school. I've heard that some units like to do this so they can mold you to their way of doing things before you've learned 'bad habits'. I don't think a med-surg background could ever really hurt, but I don't think it's necessary if you already know you want to end up somewhere else. I think it's probably easier to get into many of the specialty areas right out of school and do their new grad orientation, than trying to transfer in later with only a year or two of experience.