Specializing

JustKeepDriving · Nov 20, 2013

My two cents: take any nursing job that you get offered. If you are able to choose then I seriously envy you because in my area- unless you are the one of the seriously lucky 18 out of 1000 new grad BSN applicants that were invited for the versant interview (I'm sure much more applied) and got the job, then you're pretty much destined for home health or LTC (which is also getting harder to enter, sadly). If you know what specialty you want to go into early, and have the choice between the med/surg specialty (it really is it's own specialty) and a specialty you are more interested in - I would probably say go with the specialty you are drawn to. Having med/surg experience doesn't always guarantee a spot in a different specialty later on. Many nursing specialties in my part of the country (including med/surg) are looking not just for acute care nursing experience prior to applying - but prefer experience within THAT SPECIALTY.

In my specialty med/surg might make working with the patient's physical complaints and conditions smoother - but many that came here from med/surg were just as unprepared for it as new graduates right out of nursing school. Every area of nursing is different and every area is going to take orientation time and has a learning curve. A nurse that is advanced in med-surg isn't considered an expert when they switch over to Psych, L&D, OR, ICU ect. They will take their invaluable med/surg skills with them but they will still have to learn the ropes to become an expert in their "new" nursing field. Just like if I went into med/surg - I'd take my psych skills with me, but I would definitely have to learn med/surg skills to be a proficient beginner med/surg nurse.

nursekate7 · Nov 20, 2013

How do you feel about specializing right out of nursing school? Do you think Med-Surg experience is necessary? I would like to specialize in OB or the OR.

I also wanted to specialize in OB but both hospitals I applied to wanted me to have Medical/Surgical experience first.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2013

I went straight into Peds when I graduated because I knew I NEVER wanted to care for adults.

Same. I've been a nurse for 6 1/2 years and have diverse experience (acute care, school and home health) but have ZERO desire to ever work with adults. I applied only to pediatric jobs when I was a new grad and only to pediatric jobs when I was changing jobs a couple years ago. I don't see how not having med surg experience has hindered me in any way. I don't ever want to work with adults so my pedi experience is more valuable for those positions.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2013

Depends on what you enjoy and what your goals are for nursing. Everyone has areas that they prefer for various reasons, and this may change throughout your career.

I have some med surg experience, but I've been working LTC for three years. I probably won't stay in LTC, but I am certain that I want to work with geriatric patients. LTC, geri psych, rehab, oncology and palliative care are my areas of interest. I have no intention of ever working med surg.

I have friends who specialized in mental health from day one, and have no intention of ever working med surg. They don't need to.

Nursing continues to have this odd hierachy, but in reality, the way we provide care is transitioning away from the typical medicine units to community based and specialized practise. All areas of nursing are important, and there is a skil set for each of them. Pursue areas of interest so that you will feel the most content in your career.

wannabecnl · Nov 21, 2013

"Stay curious, open and humble, teachable. "

I love that statement so much!!!!! I'm printing it out for my locker right now!

I agree with the posts above, even though they differ. It really comes down to what you want to do. L&D nurses lament to me that they are unfamiliar with some of the lines my patients come with from the OR, because they just don't see them much. OR nursing is very specific and prepares you for staying there or maybe being an RNFA. The two fields are incredibly different from each other. Then there's all the "nurse stuff" that you learn no matter where you start: delegating, prioritizing, documentation, safety, assessment, etc.

If you really don't know which you prefer, med-surg would not be a bad place to start because you'll get a cross-section. Even in med-surg there are sub-specialties; I had to basically re-teach a 20+ year veteran ortho nurse how to deal with my post-op pt's continuous bladder irrigation when she found herself working on a urology floor!