What exactly is so bad about Med Surg?

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

Too much work, too little pay. THE END

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

I'm sorry that wasn't even helpful. To be honest I went to LTC from MS because of a $5/hour pay difference. This was in 1994 so that was alot of money. Being young (20) and right out of school I wanted as much pay as possible and LPNs were more in charge and not treated like second class citizens. Hope that was better.

patwil73 · Oct 23, 2007

I know it has something to do with the ratios, but other than that, what in the world is so horrible about it that makes new nurses say they would rather chew off their left foot than put in their time there?
And for those who like Med Surg, please chime in too.

Med-Surg requires a lot of varied knowledge that can be difficult for new nurses who are just getting their bearings. On a large medical floor you could have cardiac patients, renal, gi disorders, respiratory failures, metabolic (diabetics) - each one requiring its own skill set and knowledge to handle correctly. Add on top of that most hospitals will have the largest patient ratio's on their medical floors so it can be quite overwhelming.

Add in that most (not all, but most) patients whose medical conditions have finally caught up with them are older you have dementia, sundowner's, etc to deal with. So if you are 1) unsure of your knowledge base and 2) haven't quite got the time management thing down - med-surg can be devastating.

However, that is also the reason it is often said get a year of med-surg because you will have seen almost everything in that time, and if you can survive there you can survive anything.

Hope that helps,

PS the above is not to imply you might not get varied patients on specialty floors, but the odds are usually a lot less.

Pat

jodi_cmsrn · Oct 23, 2007

On a large medical floor you could have cardiac patients, renal, gi disorders, respiratory failures, metabolic (diabetics) - each one requiring its own skill set and knowledge to handle correctly. Add on top of that most hospitals will have the largest patient ratio's on their medical floors so it can be quite overwhelming.
Pat

These are the reasons I LOVE med-surg. Boredom doesn't happen, and I really like being challenged with the diverse issues of my patients. I have been a med-surg nurse for almost 5 years now, and although I know the day will come that I physically don't want to do the job anymore, I am enjoying each day while I can.

When I was in school, I had no desire to work med-surg, but was interested in psych. Being a rural area, I was limited to where there were openings, and that was med-surg. I now can't imagine working anywhere else.

The ratios aren't always great, some days you think are going to do you in, but I wouldn't give it up.

Hope this helps from the other perspective.

swee2000 · Oct 23, 2007

These are the reasons I LOVE med-surg. Boredom doesn't happen, and I really like being challenged with the diverse issues of my patients...I know the day will come that I physically don't want to do the job anymore, I am enjoying each day while I can...I now can't imagine working anywhere else...The ratios aren't always great, some days you think are going to do you in, but I wouldn't give it up.

I totally agree! I've been working on a med/surg unit for 3 1/2 years now and, even though it can be very stressful & busy for many reasons, I could not imagine working anywhere else in the hospital(by choice...I HATE having to float!!!). Yes you may see the same surgeries over & over. But each patient is unique, each situation is different, and no 2 days are ever the same. That variety is one of the things I love most about med/surg.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

One bad thing is that a lot of hospitals use it as a dumping ground. Couple that with often higher ratios and you spend all of your time trying to stay afloat.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

It's not just new nurses. I've been a nurse for 15 years.

I ran from a horrible med surg job.

What was so bad about it? Rediculous, unrealistic work load, terrible working conditions, danger to license and pts, physicians acting like jerks, disrespect from manager, treated like a little kid, lazy, beligerant CNAs, bitter, burned out co-workers, low pay- shall I go on?

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

It's not just new nurses. I've been a nurse for 15 years.
I ran from a horrible med surg job.
What was so bad about it? Rediculous, unrealistic work load, terrible working conditions, danger to license and pts, physicians acting like jerks, disrespect from manager, treated like a little kid, lazy, beligerant CNAs, bitter, burned out co-workers, low pay- shall I go on?

So, I would avoid these problems by being on a specialty floor. They don't have rude docs, managers that treat you like children, bad CNA's, and bitter coworkers?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

One bad thing is that a lot of hospitals use it as a dumping ground. Couple that with often higher ratios and you spend all of your time trying to stay afloat.

That is one of the big issues for me.

Everything that doesn't fit in a neat category goes there. Often the really bad decubs, dementia, ETOH withdrawal, psych (now that few places have an inpatient psych unit).

It is relatively easy for me to empathise with a new dx cancer/hematology patient. It is so much harder to deal with the bounce-back pancreatitis, ETOH/substance abuser screaming bloody murder in the middle of the hall because the MD refuses to order huge doses of sedatives/pain meds. The same one that you detox at least 1-2 per month, and keeps saying that they will change.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

That is one of the big issues for me.
Everything that doesn't fit in a neat category goes there. Often the really bad decubs, dementia, ETOH withdrawal, psych (now that few places have an inpatient psych unit).
It is relatively easy for me to empathise with a new dx cancer/hematology patient. It is so much harder to deal with the bounce-back pancreatitis, ETOH/substance abuser screaming bloody murder in the middle of the hall because the MD refuses to order huge doses of sedatives/pain meds. The same one that you detox at least 1-2 per month, and keeps saying that they will change.

Hmm, sounds like fun lol!

texas2007, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2007

Many of my fellow students were talking about this...it seems that on the medsurg floor all you have time for is passing meds and paperwork and you're just on the go up and down the hallway the whole shift. Although the ratios are good at this hospital (1:4 or 5) During clinicals, I've found a few mistakes in patient's charts since I have more time to look at the chart as a student. This REALLY REALLY scares me, and not somewhere where I want to bring my hard earned license when I get it.