Tell me what you think about a good base!

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I have been working the Ortho/Oncology floors as a tech for about a year now in prep. for nursing school. I graduate a while from now...two years, however, there is one thing that concerns me daily. I do not enjoy the floor. There are so many interesting places to go in nursing and the floor doesn't appeal to me personally, so far.

My question is do you think it is necessary to do med surg or any floor first if I never plan to go there again?! What if I just got a nice job in the OR or outpatient procedures. I feel much happier when I'm not spread too thin and floor nursing is a bit of a run around crazily job. Even the nurses run about crazily where I've been working. I think I would be happier about my career choice if I was happy where I was working out of school! Should I follow my heart or other nurse's advice? Who needs a good base anyway!?

Don't think I hate floor nurses, they are very fabulous at their jobs. I just might dread work if I have to do it each day. Call me weird I don't care. :uhoh3:

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I also struggle with this question. I tend to believe in the "follow your muse" theory. In other words go where you feel passion about what you are doing.

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Specializes in Tele, Infectious Disease, OHN.

Several people out of my class went straight to OR, PACU, even L&D. Personally I worked 6 months to the day on the floor, went to public health and now occupational health. Remember that working as a tech is not the same as working as a nurse, but if you really do not think you want to do floor nursing and you have other options I say go for it. Just my .02.

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What would you say are the differences in floor nursing and floor CNA'ing? Have you been both and hat was your experience if so, or just any general observations about your tech's jobs vs. yours if you weren't.

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New nurses once worked the floors(least popular shifts) because there was no shortage of nurses and hospitals did not generally hire new grads for anywhere else until they got experience.

When I graduated, the hospital I had worked at for nearly 4 years as a nursing assistant simply told me they do not hire new grads at that hospital.

Now new grads have more choices. The downside is while you may not be running around the floors, there is little room for error in ICU,PACU. L&D and other specialities.

It seems everyone is searching for the "holy grail" in nursing-less stress, slower pace, good hours, and good pay. A new grad is competing with nurses with years of experience who want to slow down.

Try to decide what you really want to do, and plan to go straight there.

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