What's it like working on neurology unit?

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2011

neuro med or neuro surgery ? and if surgery heads or spines ?

allnurses Guide · Jan 13, 2011

Zippy I would class neurology as (Neuro) medicine and surgery as neurosurgery

Hi everyone, I was just thinking about different specialties. Can you guys give me some information about what it would be like to work on a neurology floor (pediatric neurology would be awesome!)
What are the pros? Cons? Patient population like? What type of personality do you think would fit? Turnover rate, comparatively?

Neurology is extremely challenging and difficult work and quite often your patients are not going to get better so much of the work can be palliative, degenerative and slow decline. It can range from increasing fits with epilepsy to end stage degenerative conditions. Lots of time is spent with investigations, trials of treatments and hoping for that relapse, but the reward is those patients who do get symptom relief and do get benefits from the treatments that are given and can go home to have some productive and quality time with their families.

wilsonbl5150 · Apr 23, 2011

I've been a neuro nurse for 3 years. It can be rewarding when you see a patient recover from a trauma or you see a medication start to work and a patients symptoms retreat. It can also be very frustrating and sad. Many neuro diseases have no cure and can leave a patient a shell of their former selves. MS, ALS, Dementia, CVA, TIA are just SOME of challenges you'll face. Personally I love it.

RNurseV · May 1, 2011

I too would like information on what to expect working on a Neuro floor. I just accepted a position on a Neuro PCU floor. Anybody experience on a PCU floor. I am so excited to start working. I have just finished nursing school and this will be my first job.

pdxmomazon · May 13, 2011

RN2B0511-

I'm curious to see how things are going for you. I start my accelerated RN program in June and I'm looking into specialties...Neuro is interesting to me. Thanks for any sharing :-)

purplesteth · May 19, 2011

I just discovered today that I'll be doing my first placement in Neuro - I have to say I'm pretty excited :)

GiantJerk · May 24, 2011

I am a new grad about to start on a Neuro floor and every time I tell a veteran nurse where I'm going to work they kind of give me some variation of a foreboding reply like an "Uh oh" or "oh... that's... tough". Has anyone else gotten that reaction?

RNurseV · May 24, 2011

RN2B0511-
I'm curious to see how things are going for you. I start my accelerated RN program in June and I'm looking into specialties...Neuro is interesting to me. Thanks for any sharing :-)

I will come back and let you know. I just do not start working on the floor until the end of June.

Rob72, ASN, RN · May 24, 2011

I am a new grad about to start on a Neuro floor and every time I tell a veteran nurse where I'm going to work they kind of give me some variation of a foreboding reply like an "Uh oh" or "oh... that's... tough". Has anyone else gotten that reaction?

Interesting. I would guess that that is based on a given population- do/will you have more epileptics, strokes, or...? Neurology is similar to orthotics, in that you tend to have significant levels of depression, new learning, coping issues, altered family roles, etc..

As my wife has noted (an RT)- Neuro is nuts, Pulm is phlematic, GI is FOS, Ortho is hardheaded... Tends to be fairly true.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 29, 2011

Unpredictable. Frequent neuro checks. Stay on your toes. Many stroke admits can and WILL have repeat CVAs.

worked hard and long · May 31, 2011

Depend on the hospital. A neuro unit in a metro area or university setting will get helicopter fly ins (medivac) from smaller hosp which will give it a more variety of pts you will see and care for. If a community hosp you will see "garden variety" of diagnosis. strokes, seizures, parkinson pt holidays (off meds) occasional injury and fall with surgical intervention if not too complicated. perhaps meningitis, multiple sclerosis rarely guilllian barre. pediatric neuro units are rare. Heck most rural hospital don't even have pediatric ICU. I hope you are in a metro area to fulfill your dreams.

FYI d/t all these illness not many pts are ambulatory. Most are bedridden and confused some require restraints. some will require the use of specialty beds which can be a great learning experience.