Who loves med-surg?

LynM75 · Jun 20, 2016

I love med-surg! I love the variety of patients, an appy, a lap chole, diverticulitis, COPD and asthma all in one shift. You will learn so much in med-surg. Good luck!

erickz623 · Jun 20, 2016

I'm also about to go into Med-Surg. The fact that I'm going to see a variety of patients and diagnoses is exciting to me.

I love staying busy, which Med-Surg will show no mercy for lol. I'm just as excited as you are!

AlwaysLearning247, BSN · Jun 20, 2016

Congrats on your new job! I work on a med surg/tele floor as well and I like it a lot! You see a variety of patients and learn so much! I would be bored doing the same thing and taking care of the same type of patients all the time. If you're someone who likes to stay busy, you chose the right floor to work!

Band Geek · Jun 21, 2016

God bless all of you who love med-surg. As someone starting out in crit care who was recently floated to a med surg unit, you are all saints.

smf0903 · Jun 21, 2016

I love it too!! I work an 18 bed med surg/tele floor and love the variety of patients we get. I've been here about a year (my first nursing gig) and have seen and learned so much. CHF, COPD, end-stage cancer, cirrhosis, odd-ball diseases, wounds, dementia, heart issues, infections, strokes, MIs, you name it. I could write a small book on the things I've learned this past year. Are some days rough? Of course, but you get that in any area of nursing. We have quite a few frequent flier and they become like some sort of extended hospital family members. Funny because we had one in this past week and it was a nurse from another floor who admitted him. He is a frequent falls (which was what brought him in) and she was concerned that he had a facial droop. While I wouldn't completely dismiss a facial droop and would still do a stroke work up, he always has a facial droop. We know his family, the wife and kids and grandkids. We know exactly what he tries to manipulate too LOL. We've had frequent fliers who have passed and it's rough on everyone because you get to know them so well. I love med surg and while I thought it might be a stepping stone into another specialty, I am thinking med surg just might be this gals home :yes:

smf0903 · Jun 21, 2016

I forgot to add, good luck on the new job!!! :)

MountainBikeChick · Jun 21, 2016

Woohoo, thank you all! I was admittedly sad at first that I didn't get the critical care job that my heart was set on, but then I realized I got along with the hiring managers wayyyy better and the patients would all be so different. Now every time I explain to family/friends what I'll be doing, I get even more excited knowing how different each day will be. CC is different each day (I did my precepting there) but at the same time also the same in a way - giving meds to sedated patients. :wacky: SMF0903, I'm glad to hear you think it could be home!!

smf0903 · Jun 21, 2016

Woohoo, thank you all! I was admittedly sad at first that I didn't get the critical care job that my heart was set on, but then I realized I got along with the hiring managers wayyyy better and the patients would all be so different. Now every time I explain to family/friends what I'll be doing, I get even more excited knowing how different each day will be. CC is different each day (I did my precepting there) but at the same time also the same in a way - giving meds to sedated patients. SMF0903, I'm glad to hear you think it could be home!!

I adored my critical care rotation too. I loved the complexity of the patients and the interaction with families during such a delicate time. The interaction with patients and families is there in MS too, sometimes it's also end-of-life but also tons of teaching and such which is awesome. I am lucky (at least I think I am LOL) in that I work at a small hospital and out ICU is on the same floor, just down the hall. We get all the pts coming out of ICU and occasionally transfer them over to ICU. In our smaller facility we get the opportunity to do more with our patients (such as drips and such) that usually go to another area in larger hospitals (at least they do around here). There's a really nice continuity of care on our floor which is really awesome. I hope you like it, I think med surg is great!

annonymouse · Aug 1, 2016

Started in Med-Surg, went wild for years in Critical Care, and now loving Med-Surg again close to retirement. Learned so much in the beginning; exciting and exasperating as all get out;(heartbreaking and frustrating as well)........ Time management, prioritization, and quick analysis/assessment were ingrained so deeply that they became reflex. Swift intervention feels good when you have the confidence Med-Surg knowledge provides. Necessary, in my opinion before moving on to any level of Critical Care. After my years of Critical Care; with the 'reflex' knowledge of Med-Surg within the bones.....it has become more of a customer service, caring, human-empowerment, education-oriented work. I love it so much!!! Never a dull moment! I love the human connection and the light I am able to shine on patients as well as the light and wisdom the patients impart to me. Med-Surg teaches one to be flexible and accepting of change, swift thinking and acting, and a jack/jill of all trades. I love Med- Surg because once it has become part of you....it really is a Zen practice. Corny maybe, but very true for me. :)

ayejay09 · Aug 5, 2016

I love med-surg when I can actually do my job. My currently facility restricts RNs because we are a prestigious medical teaching facility. Doctors get priority over nurses. Overall, I love my job and the patients I see.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2016

I do. I never intended to stay in med/surg, but I always found my way back. I've worked same day, mother baby, GI, and did brief stints in ED and PCU. Even though I liked those departments, I became bored with them. Med/surg offered variety without the intensity of ICU.

I finally realized that I was a true blue med/surg nurse and embraced my decision, lol. I became certified in med/surg and now fight for med/surg nurses, which is a specialty!

One thing before I go...and I'm getting on soapbox... Med/surg is NOT a bad place to work. What makes it suck is the management that short staffs the department, therefore burning out the nurses.