Where oh where to start??

Telemetry may be a good start. It is step down and a lot of good experience.

At my hospital, we start our ICU new grads off in step-down ICU, where the nurses have a 3 to 1 ratio. It gets the new grad ready for the experience of working with complicated patients and allows the building of confidence before starting in the ICUs.

If you read these forums enough you will see a pattern emerge. Many new grads go to the place they want to be, (ICU, ER, etc.) and have horrible experiences. They pick a place because of a high sign-on bonus, or a better salary. What is the most important, is the kind of learning environment they provide for new grads. Do they throw you in there with the wolves and hope you make it? If you want to end up happy, talk to the people who already work where you are thinking of working. What do they think? They will know if they have a good climate for new grads.

This sucks. I am a nursing student in my last year (I graduate in May 2009) and I have NO idea where to start as a new grad...

I have always known that I want to end up in Trauma/ICU (and eventually, a Flight Nurse) but even though I work part-time as a unit clerk in an ICU, I just don't know if I could "fly" (rather, I'm afraid I might sink).

I ask so many RN's I work with what I should do and literally HALF say "Start in M/S" and HALF say "Start where you want".

OMG - I am sooooo confused!!! HELP!!!! :eek::banghead:

I say, go where you want, but job shadow for a few days, and most importantly, ( to me anyway) find out how long your orientation is. I have heard nightmares about very short orientations, and then being thrown to the wolves. rhonda

hi there, I would actually be quite rational about this. I would make a plan. This may sound very boring and predictable, but I think its helpful and can develope your career. If you choose something you dont like then you can change. Be flexiable and try new things, I did this in my early days as a nurse and along with nurse education and development - I got an MSc in nursing (loved it) and managed to climb the ladder nicely. But it was all thought out to start with and for me it worked out well.

If you read these forums enough you will see a pattern emerge. Many new grads go to the place they want to be, (ICU, ER, etc.) and have horrible experiences. They pick a place because of a high sign-on bonus, or a better salary.quote]

I am in the same (graduation in May, where do I start) situation, but I think I would rather start in ICU, just because it is on the Med Surg. floors that I have seen alot more of these horrible experiences for new nurses... where they are 4 months out of school, have 8 patients, and "oh, yeah, you're in charge too!" At least ICU you are almost gauranteed not to have more than 3 patients, and there are other staff there to back you up. Just my opinion though - feel free to contradict!

86 and others,here's a discussion by new grads and experienced nurses about starting in ICU

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/new-grad-blues-328118.html

Since you don't seem to know where you want to start, I suggest starting in Med/Surg. It is very important to find out how long the orientation will be, if the unit is supportive of new grads, how many years of experience other nurses on the floor have, if you will have an experienced preceptor and the same preceptor during your entire orientation, and how many patients you will care for when on your own.

I am new here and your question caused me to join!!

I have pretty strong feelings about new nurses going into specialty areas. I worked for almost 10 years in the ED and watched many new nurses try to get their wings and fly in the ED. It is very hard to learn how to be a nurse and learn how to practice safely in a specialty area.

I know that M/S is not for everyone but I do believe that it is an important step. So important that after 7 years of ED experience I went to work on a M/S unit for the experience (I had never done M/S before). I was told that if I wanted to be a nursing educator I would be a stronger canidate if I had M/S on my resume.

You are going to be a nurse for a long time and have a world of promise ahead of you. Take your time and work towards your goal in a way that you will have good experiences and build on your knowledge and strengths. If you start in a specialty area and have a poor experience you will negatively impact your confidence, skills and career for years to come.