Starting first med/surg job

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Hi everyone,

I am going to be starting my first nursing job in one month as an RN. It is on more of a surgical floor then med floor. I was told by the nurse manager that it is very fast paced and busy, but I'll learn a lot. I'll be working nights and was told that the night shift RNs cover 8pts in a team with an LPN. I'm also going to have about a 6 week orientation, with the option for another week or two if needed. I'm a little nervous about this, hopfully the orientation will be enough. I'll work hard in the time I have to learn everything I can.

So, now I have a month of waiting, but I want to start to prepare myself for this upcoming adventure. I'm going to read back through my med/surg books and other notes I have from class. I know I'm going to learn a lot when I get there, but I've never really worked on a surgical floor and I'm going to be seeing and using a lot of new things. I just want to be prepared. Are there any other resources that anyone can recommend to help get me started?

Thanks in advance for any advice

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Hi everyone,

I am going to be starting my first nursing job in one month as an RN. It is on more of a surgical floor then med floor. I was told by the nurse manager that it is very fast paced and busy, but I'll learn a lot. I'll be working nights and was told that the night shift RNs cover 8pts in a team with an LPN. I'm also going to have about a 6 week orientation, with the option for another week or two if needed. I'm a little nervous about this, hopfully the orientation will be enough. I'll work hard in the time I have to learn everything I can.

So, now I have a month of waiting, but I want to start to prepare myself for this upcoming adventure. I'm going to read back through my med/surg books and other notes I have from class. I know I'm going to learn a lot when I get there, but I've never really worked on a surgical floor and I'm going to be seeing and using a lot of new things. I just want to be prepared. Are there any other resources that anyone can recommend to help get me started?

Thanks in advance for any advice

My best advice to you...during orientation...befriend a few experienced nurses...they really are your greatest resources. I have learned SO much from a few nurses who really took an interest in me and supported me through the whole new grad experience. Don't be afraid to ask questions..it is better to ask than to make a mistake...it is a hard road as a new grad...don't get discouraged...it is a learning experience

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Specializes in med-surg/ortho for now.

First of all congratulations! My advice to you is to make flash cards for medications...know HTN meds, pain, Abx and others. Your life will be so much easier if this is drilled into your head prior to starting. You must look up anything med unfamiliar to you before administration...but life will be easier. I worked as a pharmacy tech while in nursing school. Now talking to my friends since since our first RN jobs...that was the hardest and most time consuming obstacle. You will end up seeing many of the same meds again and again. I would not study every med in the book...rather study by groups...beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc. Good luck!!

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Look, Listen, Learn. Ask Questions. Don't hesitant to look things up. Ask to watch other nurses/docs to do procedures. You will do fine. Take a deep breathe and hang in there.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Congratulations! I agree go to the nurse with experience! Look things up. I'm still learning something new everyday. And I have been in for 25 years.

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