What exactly is Med Surg?

live4today, RN · Oct 21, 2003

Hello kwagner_51 :)

From what I recall of my med/surg rotation, it wasn't difficult at all, but it was a very "busy" rotation because there are so many mulitple diagnoses you get to see and learn about with patients on med/surg. If you can get med/surg down pat, you should do good in all your other clinicals for med/surg is the "homebase" for much of what you will be doing as a nurse........of course, this is my own professional opinion.

Good luck!

kwagner_51 · Oct 21, 2003

So I should be able to take micrbiology and the other two classes in the same semester, right?

Thanks again!

live4today, RN · Oct 21, 2003

Well, I didn't! I took all my pre-reqs and non-nursing classes BEFORE I started any of my clinicals. I'll have to let someone else speak to that question. :)

memphispanda, RN · Oct 21, 2003

MedSurg is extremely challenging. You will learn about a gazillion disease processes and have to understand the patho behind them. You will have to be able to apply that information to your particular patient in order to provide individualized care. You will most likely have to do care plans or concept maps which are quite time-consuming, at least the first several you do will be.

I took all my college course before I took nursing courses because I wanted to have the background knowledge first, and I didn't want to have to be bothered with that stuff while trying to figure out the world of nursing. MedSurg is vitally important for your knowledge foundation. If you only are able to half-apply yourself in it, you will be shortchanging yourself in the long run.

LilRedRN1973 · Oct 21, 2003

From what I hear coming out of the 2nd year nursing students, Med-Surg is the HARDEST out of all the clincical rotations. They roll their eyes and groan when asked about it.

kwagner_51 · Oct 21, 2003

In the Spring, [2004] I will be in the 2nd semester of my 1st year. So it isn't the same thing as med surg for seniors....right? I am in an AD N program. How much harder is Micro that Bio Chem and Intermediate Algebra?

Thanks!

live4today, RN · Oct 21, 2003

kwagner_51.........There is an Advance Med/Surg rotation the end of your second year. At my school, we had the opportunity to choose which area of nursing we would do our advance med/surg training on. That particular quarter, we had to work three full time eight hour day clinicals (nonpaid, mind you) per week along with our college lectures that were ongoing until graduation.

The first med/surg rotation for us was called Nursing 125 which everyone who had gone through it already called the "weeding out quarter". Yes, it certainly was as I noticed many students did not survive that rotation. That is a make it or you're gone quarter for sure.

I liked Micro. Didn't care for the other sciences, but survived them, however I LOVED Psyche classes! :)

memphispanda, RN · Oct 21, 2003

We have MedSurg (Nursing care of Adults 1) the second semester of nursing courses. Nursing care of adults 2 was half of the third semester. This last semester we have Critical Care. We lost a LOT of our class in the first medsurg course. Like 30 or more. I don't actually remember now the exact numbers.

I know that it's a hard choice to make, and it's easy to tell yourself that just because others had trouble doesn't mean you will have trouble. However this medsurg course is where you really get into the "nursey" part of school. It's a lot of work. It's very hard to prepare for it, and it's hard to communicate the amount of work it will be.

As far as Micro itself, I didn't think it was a big deal. I didn't study a whole lot for it and came out with an A. However the time factor would have been a problem taking it with a nursing course. There also were people who had a very hard time with Micro. Everyone is different, and the instructor makes a HUGE difference in your success.

LilRedRN1973 · Oct 21, 2003

From what I hear coming out of the 2nd year nursing students, Med-Surg is the HARDEST out of all the clincical rotations. They roll their eyes and groan when asked about it.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2003

It's so individualized so it's hard to answer your question. Microbiology to me wasn't a big deal. Anatomy & Phys was the hard one. If you've got A&P out of the way med-surg won't be as difficult. To me what was worse about med-surg or any clincals was the paperwork.

If you are a full-time student you probably will be o.k. I'm sure by now you're accustomed to working very hard at school anyway.

As far as exactly what med-surg is, this is where you go system by system learning the disease pathophys. and learn the medical and nursing treatments of these diseases, illnesses, etc. It also covers perioperative areas. It's the "meat and potatoes" of the ADN program.

Good luck!