Tips for new nurse starting in med-surg/tele?

[wmonursing58]

Hi everyone,

I am starting my first nursing job in the med-surg/tele unit soon. Wasn't my first choice but can't complain because it was through a new grad residency program and I got the day shift I wanted... I'm seeing so many negative reviews about working in this dept med-surg/tele and that my job will mostly consist of hotel-like services LOL 

For those who survived, any tips that may be useful? maybe common drugs and diagnoses I should become familiar with? what my day-to-day may look like? and is it possible to transition out to a different field of nursing later on with this experience?

thanks in advance!

[mkpatl, APRN]

Med Surg/Tele is an excellent unit to start on as a new nurse! You're gonna learn so much... meds, IVs, wound care, foleys, hanging blood, time management, and on and on. You will have an excellent foundation. It might be a grind, but the skills are invaluable. Even if you change to something different or less clinical later, you're not going to regret having all that experience. It is a lot harder going the other way, from less clinical to more clinical because after you are an "experienced" nurse employers often expect you have the foundation and do not provide enough training  to become proficient as they do with new grads. The most important advice I'd give is: don't rush, double check everything, your gut is usually right, don't ignore it, and always ask if you're not 100% sure. Wishing you the best of luck in your new career! Nursing is a wonderful and diverse field. This foundation will set you up for so many options for your 2nd job.

[Patricia Ordnung]

I don't know where the reviews came from, but my advice is don't believe the reviews!  I was advised several years ago not to take a job because I would hate it.  I ended up learning a ton, especially about how to deal with difficult patients and co-workers.  I ended up staying for five years.