Should a new grad RN?....

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 30, 2017

You're going to find a multitude of opinions on that. I'm of the opinion that med/surg is a specialty in its own right. If new grads have the opportunity to work in the specialty of their choice, then they should claim that opportunity. I did.

oceanblue52 · Apr 30, 2017

I've known plenty of new grads who have been successful in the ER. I think that is a great specialty to start in and keep opportunities open, as long as you have the right supports in place for your orientation. Congratulation on graduation and landing some job offers! I think Med-Surg is not necessary personally, and most of my preceptors said the same thing when I was getting ready to graduate.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2017

I wanted to do L&D or the ER, both are not basic nursing.

Um, basic nursing?

Fine if you don't want to do MedSurg, but please don't insinuate that MedSurg is somehow, I don't know, lesser.

pixierose, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2017

Um, basic nursing?
Fine if you don't want to do MedSurg, but please don't insinuate that MedSurg is somehow, I don't know, lesser.

Picked up on this as well.

What's "basic nursing?"

I know several former classmates that have thrived in the ED as a new grad. I also know some that didn't and moved on. Med/Surg is certainly a specialty of its own; if you decide this isn't for you, that's fine. But it ain't "basic nursing," whatever that is?

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2017

Wherever you start your career as a nurse you will learn "basic nursing". Every speciality, Med-Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, etc. has its own set of skills, assessments, routines. If you have offers to start in an area you are interested in, go for it. You will have an orientation, preceptor, and lots of opportunities to learn and grow. Med-Surg has its own set of assessment skills that are different than other areas. Time management skills, medication administration, prioritization are all specific to the area you start, and will learn those skills in that area. It is like comparing a grapefruit to celery. Both are good, just very different.

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Apr 30, 2017

I think its awesome if you can get into the specialty you want right off. But I will agree with others, I did clinical in M/S and my final role transition in the ER. I was way less tired at the end of my ER clinical that I was after my M/S clinical. The M/S nurses were juggling much more all together so definitely not basic!!

chacha82, ADN, BSN · May 1, 2017

Nothing basic about med/surg, that's where I landed after graduation & trained for a stepdown. Up to my eyeballs in q4 neuro checks, heparin gtt, PCA pumps and titrating clevi drips, plus amiodarone here and there.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · May 1, 2017

The real question is whether or not you're going to have adequate support during your orientation period. What kind of orientation will you receive as a new grad in the ED? Are you going into a residency program? Or, will you just have a standard new hire orientation? The answers to those questions apply regardless of the specialty you choose (medical/surgical is a specialty, too!!!). The answers are also facility-specific. There are some places without residencies that do a great job of training new grads and there are others that don't. It seems that those that don't are more the rule than the exception so beware of that when you start, especially in the ED.

A new grad apparently can do anything as long as the opportunities are available. There are hazards to consider in the 1st year as a nurse, however, that require special consideration and care (mostly in the realm of self-care, professional and personal support, and establishing your foundation for what kind of practice you wish to do) so you aren't back posting in 4-6 mos saying how much you hate the ED and where you work.

nyy2 · May 1, 2017

I can see it both ways.... experience provides a good knowledge base, but at the same time, you can never be totally prepared for the ER! You will see any and everything in the ER. I have seen quite a few new nurses do well in the ER. And because you see a little of everything, it might even give you an idea of a different specialty you hadn't thought of (cardio, neuro, peds, etc.)

I don't think OP meant anything derogatory in saying medsurg is basic nursing. I took it as medsurg requiring all of the "basic" nursing skills, basic meaning fundamental. Working in medsurg requires being a jack of all trades....you have to be able to do so many things - while specialties are focused in one area.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 1, 2017

Hello! I am two weeks from graduation and I am fortunate enough to have accepted a job already. I had two places on my mind that I really wanted to work but some people helped sway my decision. Some people say you should start on a med/surg floor, others say do what will make you happy. I wanted to do L&D or the ER, both are not basic nursing. I chose the ER because I thought I could have more of a broad experience. What is your opinion? Should new grads work in these areas? What advice would you give to a new grad?

You've already accepted a job, so what difference does it make what we think?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 1, 2017

IMO, doing a year in med/surg first is in no way needed for a successful nursing career in whatever specialty you desire. It couldn't hurt one bit though, and it could even be helpful. But it's not mandatory.

And in this job market, if you have an opportunity to end up in your dream specialty after graduation, take it!

Some days I wish I had done that med/surg year. But a majority of the time, I'm glad that I ended up in my niche right from the get-go :)