Should I switch from mental health rotation first to med-surg (acute)?

[annieelu]

Hi everyone. I'm in the BscN program, in my second year. And next semester we have an option to do either mental health or meg-surg (acute) rotation first. It doesn't matter which rotation we do first, we eventually have to do the other one in our 3rd year first semester. I'm conflicted because when I was in my 1st year, I choose mental health to do because everyone says it was easier, and focused more on communication wise So, this is the reason why I choose to do the rotation first, and also it was very hard to get a spot because on a date in april, registration opened for classes and clinical positions, and I almost barely made it to get a spot. I was able to get the theory class but not the clinical spot, but luckily I got a spot. But in this semester I'm currently in, we're doing community health nursing clinical placement (Long-term care, assisted-living). My clinical group all knew each other and they were pretty much all close friends and I was the only one in the group who didn't know anyone (we're group of 8). So throughout the semester, I become friends with them. They're amazing, supportive, really want to be friends with me. I feel accepted and finally feel like I have friends. They're friends that I can laugh with, have fun with, interact with, and basically friends that all support each other and helping each other make it through the semester. In my 1st year I was very lonely I had one friend but she was never really what you call a "friend". She would cheat off me on exams, steal some of my ideas from my paper when we decided to exchange papers so we can both read them to see if they make sense, and etc. I don't feel that friendship connection with her because we never really talk to each other about anything besides school, and we're very different from each other in regards to our personality.

My clinical group, which is the group of friends I've made, they're all doing their med-surg rotation first next semester and I have thoughts about switching to do my med-surg rotation as well because I will be in the same classes as them but maybe not same clinical placement because theres limited spots left.

So my question is should I switch from mental health to med-surg rotation first? I'm stuck, because its hard to go through all the stress in nursing school without any friends it feels so lonely and I cry sometimes. If don't do my med-surg rotation first, then I won't see them until 4th year. I know some of you might say I'll eventually make friends, but the thing is this group of friends has the same personality as me and we're all capatible and feel very happy this semester.

Another thing is, I do have an interest in med-surg and working at a hospital when I graduate so it might be useful to do med-surg first, and I really only choose mental health because everyone was choosing it first and its easier.​

[Jolie, BSN]

Please accept my answer in the spirit it is intended: as a practical response, not a harsh one.

It doesn't matter a whit which rotation you do first. Not a single patient, faculty member or future employer will ever ask or care. Please don't stress yourself out over this non-issue, when there are so many real concerns in life.

Good luck to you.