Where to go from here (Med Surg, that is)?!

[newRNinthecity]

Hello! I'm getting closer to the end of my first year in nursing on a busy med surg floor at a big city hospital. After the 6 or 7 month mark, I finally got into my grove and started getting some enjoyment from my work...no longer dreading upcoming shifts. Sometimes I leave work feeling like I made a difference for someone... but most of the time I leave (more like, run out) feeling super stressed, overworked, and in need of a long time to de-stress. I definitely do NOT like med surg. Too much chaos. I don't feel the passion for the job that I want to feel. I could maybe stick it out in med surg longer if I had a good schedule, but most newer nurses here have to rotate nights/days/weekends - and for me, I need to be doing something I enjoy more if I am going to work this crazy schedule. Our unit has a constant turnover of new RNs. People stay 1-2 years and leave or transfer units. So I know its not just me.

I can internally transfer at the year mark. 1 year med surg seems like a solid foundation to be able to transfer somewhere with. But I have no clue where I want to go! There are always openings on most units, so I think there will be quite a few doors open.

I initially wrote off working with babies when I finished school, but now I am realizing I might actually like it.

Has anyone gone from med surg to Postpartum/Mother Baby or the NICU? Was the transition easy? How does it differ from med surg (besides the obvious patient populations)?

I've given some thought to GI lab (endo), but have heard thats a pretty desirable position and hard to get. Also may need some experience recovering people from anesthesia.

I've also thought a little about the OR - but a little scared to make a commitment to it and then not like it. I think I would miss some aspects of being on a floor.

Not really interested in going to ICU. Not interested in L&D. I honestly picture myself in an outpatient setting one day unless I find my niche in the hospital.

I'm planning on shadowing on some different units once it gets a little closer to the one year mark. No clue where I want to go, but I know for certain I don't want to stay where I am.

Any suggestions on places to shadow? Any med surg nurses that have had successful transitions elsewhere?!

[adpiRN]

I never worked med surg but I'm on Mother Baby and it's awesome and nurses I work with who came from med surg comment on how much easier it is.

You may have 3-4 couplets or 6-7 pts on PP but they're generally healthy, most take themselves to the bathroom and only need pain meds every few hours.

There are of post-op c/s pts but they tend to do well.

Lots of time for pt teaching, helping with breast feeding and handling cute babies :)

Every shift I've worked so far nurses have been able to take breakfast and lunch breaks.

The hardest part of Mother Baby/PP is probably getting the job :)

[newRNinthecity]

Thanks for the info! I'm interested in mother/baby because it seems like a generally happier environment and generally happier people. In med surg I do like my little old ladies and cute old men, especially the ones that like to tell stories - but I never have time to talk to them and its definitely not a happy environment! I'm sure mother/baby can be stressful and have difficult patients, but it seems like it would at least be better to be stressed out in that environment.