Why is Med-Surg so hated?

Specialties Med-Surg

Updated:   Published

Whenever I have told a fellow newer grad that I want to work in a hospital, they ask 'where?' And I say 'probably Med-Surg' and then they crinkle their nose. I just want to get my start in acute care and heard that's a good place to start. One of this area's hospital groups seems to have such a hard time hanging on to RNs willing to work in Med-Surg, that they will pay *experienced* RNs several dollars more per hour than in more sought after specialties. Is Med -Surg really so terrible or different from other acute care floors?

Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

The problem is that the few nurses that are burnt out and are nasty to patients ruin it for everyone else. Personally I could not do Med Surg, it would be mind numbing and boring to me. I do have respect for those nurses that do it however.

1 Votes

I agree. I work ID medsurg. My patient load is the same as all the other floors in the hospital. We have both high and low acuity patients. We are often so busy that we appreciate when we have an uneventful night. I have learned so much. I think this floor is a good start. We also get a lot of surgical patients. Seems to me that not all medsurg floors are the same depending on where you go.

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You are right. I guess it depends on the state in which you live. I have seen job postings wanting only experience in that area. Must have ER, L&D, ambulatory surgery, etc. experience there is no exception no job posting 3 years of med/surg equates, which I think if you've worked in med/surg you can learn and work anywhere. They are just being picky because they can. I feel bad for the new grads in this area there are no positions for them. When I graduated in 2001 in another state, many areas were open for new grads and yes the antiquated advice start in med/surg and you can go anywhere. My preceptor who had graduated in the 70's actually got to start her nursing career in the OR!

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I used to work on medsurg floors before ICU and it was brutal. High patient loads, demanding family members and of course being dragged in every direction by management, Drs, PT, OT, XYZ. I felt so under appreciated by everyone, I felt like I worked in a dumping ground that didn't respect the hard work the med surg nurses were putting in.

ICU is busy too but it's a different kind of busy. Looking after 1 critical patient just seems more manageable to me then 8 floor patients.

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
thenightnurse456 said:
I used to work on medsurg floors before ICU and it was brutal. High patient loads, demanding family members and of course being dragged in every direction by management, Drs, PT, OT, XYZ. I felt so under appreciated by everyone, I felt like I worked in a dumping ground that didn't respect the hard work the med surg nurses were putting in.

ICU is busy too but it's a different kind of busy. Looking after 1 critical patient just seems more manageable to me then 8 floor patients.

You are absolutely correct, which is why I'm trying to claw my way into stepdown travel assignments thanks to my tele experience and stay clear away from med-surg ones. Once I finish traveling to my satisfaction, I'm headed to the ICU or as a 2nd option, the ED. It's time for me to do critical care.

1 Votes
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..

Well, in my experience, M/S isn't "worse" or "better" than other units. It's very different though. It has it's own unique qualities that require you to use skill sets that aren't as heavily relied upon on other units. Some have already mentioned the large med pass and being organized. Plus, you have to be very good at admitting and discharging patients. Both of them happen at a high rate on the unit.

The reason so many people give you a "ugh" response is probably this: M/S, more than any other unit I've experienced, requires teamwork. If you are the type to hide in your shell, always pretending to be busy, never leaving the confines of just your patient room......M/S isn't for you. Not to say there aren't plenty of them working in that field but, their influence is much more damaging to their M/S coworkers than it would be on other units. In short, you can't act like a tortuous and hide in your shell. Get one person who is having a "bad day" or insisting on only "doing the minimum" and the whole unit suffers.

Teamwork is essential, not luxury on M/S units. So, it goes to follow that the risk for the whole unit having a bad day is high. These things cause most M/S units to be extremely polarized. What I mean by that is, I've seen very few "marginal" or "just Ok" M/S units. They either have the teamwork in place and run beautifully, or don't and they run like a mad mess going nowhere.

I guess the reactions from who you're talking to tells you which side of the coin they're seeing at their hospital.

2 Votes
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
PacoUSA said:
You are absolutely correct, which is why I'm trying to claw my way into stepdown travel assignments thanks to my tele experience and stay clear away from med-surg ones. Once I finish traveling to my satisfaction, I'm headed to the ICU or as a 2nd option, the ED. It's time for me to do critical care.

Hmph. I have not found that it's linear like that. Step Down unit at hospital "A" is a hot mess has no reflection on what it's like a hospital "B". That is common sense, and yes, these forums show there are many similarities but I think the differences are enough that it's dangerous to expect any real linear relation from place to place when you're traveling.

Case in point: I came to this thread because I have five years experience M/S then moved onto other things. And yes, I wanted out of it desperately when I got out of it. But I've learned one absolute truth in my second five years of nursing: One specialty isn't "better" or "worse" than another. They're different. What kind of "different" is better or worse for you depends on you, not the specialty.

I can tell you, while I wasn't in love with M/S nursing, my worst assignments and jobs were on cardiac and pulmonary units. I almost didn't finish a contract once the cardiac unit was so.........it was just disjointed and out of control. They thought nothing of "skipping" the admission when they got a new patient cause they knew they could just transfer the patient elsewhere and pretend it was done. Then when that unit went to discharge the patient................"OMG, they aren't even admitted, I have to do twice the work now."

That wouldn't have been accepted at the hospital I started my career at, not on any unit, but the cardiac unit was sharp and on their toes. This assignment, forget it.

Just saying, don't be upset when you get to step down and find yourself every bit as annoyed....but by different things. Cause then you'll be wondering if nursing is for you. And I'm sure it is. But pick your direction you go in according to running "to" your long term goals, not by "running" from something. You'll never get to that place where it's all perfect, so may as well land in the place that suits you best.

1 Votes

I dont like med surg. I like taking care if patients medically too. I hate being at a job and can't even use the bathroom. How do you enjoy a career like that. Thats why Im doing a year in med surg, then going to different department, either ER, OR, L and D.

1 Votes
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
working bee said:
I dont like med surg. I like taking care if patients medically too. I hate being at a job and can't even use the bathroom. How do you enjoy a career like that. Thats why Im doing a year in med surg, then going to different department, either ER, OR, L and D.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. It's not so much about the type of department as it is the management and adequate staffing.

1 Votes
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
working bee said:
I dont like med surg. I like taking care if patients medically too. I hate being at a job and can't even use the bathroom. How do you enjoy a career like that. Thats why Im doing a year in med surg, then going to different department, either ER, OR, L and D.

Sometimes in the ER, you will find yourself scarfing down food and barely going to the bathroom as well, especially if you are working with a skeleton crew and 60-deep perpetually in the waiting room.

Different area, same problems...

3 Votes
Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
working bee said:
I dont like med surg. I like taking care if patients medically too. I hate being at a job and can't even use the bathroom. How do you enjoy a career like that. Thats why Im doing a year in med surg, then going to different department, either ER, OR, L and D.

You can 'not use the bathroom' in ER, OR, L&D, ICU, etc......

1 Votes

Could not agree with you more!!! It's true. I no longer buy lunch because we rarely have time to get away even to a vending machine for the much needed Coke. I try to run in back when my patients are stable and scarf something down plus bring snacks to keep my blood sugar stable.

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