Too slow for med-surg: other work options?

Nurses General Nursing

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Tried an 8-week orientation time on a busy med-surg unit, and sweeties, it ain't working! This ole gal can't work fast enough on med-surg with highly acute patients...and my confidence has tanked. BIGTIME.

Going to be job-hunting----there's only med-surg jobs available at the hospital---and am scared purple. What sort of nursing areas might be good for a slow-coach-sort BSN-RN?

Leaning more towards clinic-type, home settings, or towards a more chronic patient....

My first 6 years in nursing were spent primarily "nursing charts", along with assessments of chronic pts. in home settings. (Developmentally disabled persons.) Good work, but burned out and took a couple years stopout, then returned to work.

Yes, I took a refresher course before trying hospital nursing. Needed every bit of help possible....

Strengths: Don't mind detailed paperwork--in fact, I enjoy it--and have analytical mind. Love teaching (professional Red Cross instructor). It's a cliche, but I ***really like*** being able to nurture and "cuddle" patients when caring for them.

Weaknesses: Can't handle med-surg speeds in a hospital. Very little acute care experience.

Would greatly appreciate any/all suggestions about areas to try and/or areas to avoid. Thanks a million!

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Maybe hospice homecare?

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If the issue is multitasking, maybe home health would work for you. I'd like to do that some day. One patient at a time, lots of teaching, and you can really lavish time on each. There's a high paper workload, but you mentioned you don't mind that.

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It may be the facility, not you! I am in a pediatric teaching hospital, med-surg, and my ratios are 4:1! I have more time at this job to get it all done plus teach and hold babies and and and....it really does depend on the environment. I love my job! I had time management issues in other jobs. Just keep looking!

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lots of options

working for with law firm

clinic - md office

school nurse

dialysis

the list is endless.. med-surg is not for everyone good luck

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Hospital case management. Lots of paperwork and tedious detail, not a lot of hands-on direct patient care. HH might not be a good choice. Acute care experience needs to be strong enough to handle assessments and interventions in the field solo.

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Your are not slow, you are just doing everything the way you were taught to do it, the right way. It is impossible to handle the case load on med/surg without bending the rules. Of course the danger is if there is an incident there will be hell to pay.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Stepdown, Rehab.

I recently shadowed at a Rehabilitation facility and was surprised to learn that it is considered "med-surg." Each nurse had five patients and the pace seemed much slower than med-surg in a hospital. That's definitely where I plan to start when I get out of nursing school. Might wanna check into that!;)

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

It is not you it is the nature of the job. Like others have mentioned, med-surg is not for everyone. Case management sounds like something you'd enjoy and be awesome at. Whatever you chose, good luck and nothing but the very best to you!

Jessy

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I am an RPN so I don't know too much about specialty areas but my aunt who has been an RN for 30 years also tried med-surg and didn't last at it. She ended up in oncology and stayed there for most of her career.

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Tried an 8-week orientation time on a busy med-surg unit, and sweeties, it ain't working! This ole gal can't work fast enough on med-surg with highly acute patients...and my confidence has tanked. BIGTIME.

Going to be job-hunting----there's only med-surg jobs available at the hospital---and am scared purple. What sort of nursing areas might be good for a slow-coach-sort BSN-RN?

Leaning more towards clinic-type, home settings, or towards a more chronic patient....

My first 6 years in nursing were spent primarily "nursing charts", along with assessments of chronic pts. in home settings. (Developmentally disabled persons.) Good work, but burned out and took a couple years stopout, then returned to work.

Yes, I took a refresher course before trying hospital nursing. Needed every bit of help possible....

Strengths: Don't mind detailed paperwork--in fact, I enjoy it--and have analytical mind. Love teaching (professional Red Cross instructor). It's a cliche, but I ***really like*** being able to nurture and "cuddle" patients when caring for them.

Weaknesses: Can't handle med-surg speeds in a hospital. Very little acute care experience.

Would greatly appreciate any/all suggestions about areas to try and/or areas to avoid. Thanks a million!

Home care visits. Hospice. How bout blood donnor nurse, Get certified as School nurse, open a busines and teach CPR, or diabetic education or one that offers child or adult day care. I know a couple of nurses that have a day care for kids with medical needs it is staffed completely by nurses.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

A few things that come to mind (not sure what experience is needed):

Case Manager

Discharge Planner

Sub-Acute Center

In-patient Rehab Center

MD office

OR (not sure about the pace here)

Long-term Care (Director of Nursing)

Public Health Nurse (just need the certification)--I did public health for one semester and it was a pretty neat home health experience, but they also do a lot of stuff with the county and education-wise.

With additional education:

School Nurse

Nursing Instructor

Advanced Practice (NP, CNS, etc.)

The opportunities are endless, with some searching you will find what you're looking for. GOOD LUCK!!!:redpinkhe

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