Student nurse career opportunity: where should I go?

Xlorgguss · Dec 16, 2015

Is it like a PCT? What are the options and what have you enjoyed so far? I haven't enjoyed my job on a medical/surgical floor but that is most likely do to the organization itself. There is plenty of opportunity to learn though. We had a float from ICU and she didn't know how to do much since vitals are taken right off the monitors by the nurses and ADLs are very limited since patients are hooked up to do many wires and monitors. To give you an idea, she didn't feel comfortable doing a manual BP. I have also heard great things about being in the ED. I would imagine you get to see a lot of different things. It all depends on your preference though.

kq21 · Dec 16, 2015

Its practically a CNA job with attending to the needs of the patient, hygiene, taking vitals, reporting I&O, and as it says "assisting in procedures and examinations". My first semester I just completed was on a med/surg floor and I enjoyed the fact that there were many different cases to learn from. So med/surg is an option. I'm also thinking about peds because I'm good with kids and I would think it'd be like a mini med/surg maybe? I'm not sure what kind of patients they have. I am also considering ER and ICU just because of the variety as well. My goal is to not be the nurse like your ICU nurse who only knows one way of doing things , which is what leans me to med/surg but then again that's all I know right now

Xlorgguss · Dec 16, 2015

For my job in med surg I basically take vitals, do blood sugars and that's about it as far as "procedural" as I get. Then there is the ADLs, toiletting, bathing, bed changes, and answering bells and patient requests like a mad man. And of course being the nurses go to person for helping re-position patients etc. I have gotten to learn how to change an is ostomy bag and have done orthostatic BP which I haven't gotten to yet in school since we start out in the nursing home for Fundamentals. I think the nurses are more willing to teach me since I am very hard working and also in an RN program, but I'm afraid I won't learn much more. However, my friend and peer works in an ED and she loves it. She does veinpuncture too which is nice. I can't give input as far as kids in pediatrics. I'm sure there are unique challenges such as observing child abuse or having hovering parents. Is the peds ED or med surg? I'm not sure if the kinds of cases you would get.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 17, 2015

Hmmm... 2 conflicting schools of thinking on this ...

1. Med/surg will give you a good foundation of basic skills -- and if you don't mind that type of work, a med/surg career offers a lot of advantages

2. However ... a lot of specialty units won't hire new grads unless they have some experience in the field (such as being a nursing assistant on a similar unit or doing a student capstone experience there, etc.) For some nurses, working in a student capacity or something similar is their best chance to ever work in those specialty.

Some med/surg nurses find it very difficult to switch into those specialties. It can be difficult to get a job in some specialties without previous experience in them .... and .... once you get comfortable in adult med/surg, switching to some specialties can be very emotionally challenging because you have to go back to being a beginner again. It feels as if the rug has been pulled out from under you -- and experienced nurses often hate that feeling.

Adding it all up:

1. If you really don't know what field of nursing might interest you ... I'd recommend ICU. Most employers will value that experience for most new grad positions. It might be your ticket into an ICU or some other specialty unit later ... but it wouldn't hurt your chances to get an adult med/surg RN job if that is what you want.

2. If your heart is secretly thinking of a certain specialty, use this opportunity to check it out -- while giving yourself the credentials you need to get a job there.

3. If you don't have a specific specialty in mind, but think maybe a certain field may interest you ... go for that ... e.g. peds med/surg. It will get your foot in the door for a variety of related specialty units.