Would like an opion please?

Jules A, MSN · Jan 8, 2009

I'd think that if you want to try L&D and the hospital is comfortable that they can train a new grad I'd say go for it. I'm glad my nursing professors didn't try to sway us but rather encouraged us to try whatever we had passion for. Good luck!

chicookie, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2009

Ok here is my advice to you, if you get L&D go for it. I would die if I got an L&D job but they wouldn't let a new nurse get a position like that especially for an ADN new nurse. Not here anyway............

I personally know nurses that have stayed in L&D forever! They never needed med-surg. I guess I am a little biased because there are never any positions for L&D here because the nurses there never want to leave. *sigh*

Go for your passion, you don't want to end up in a medsurg floor and hate it, and regret that you didn't go for L&D.

Jolie, BSN · Jan 10, 2009

I'll spare you the long version of my rant about well-meaning, but ill-informed nursing instructors who try to pressure new grads into med-surg. If med-surg is your interest and passion, then go for it! If not, don't.

Med-surg is a specialty in its own right and the patients and staff there deserve to have nurses dedicated to its practice, not stopping by for a year or two of experience so they can move on to a job they really want.

Nursing is a difficult and demanding profession under the best of circumstances. Working in an area that is not fascinating to you is not the best of circumstances, and will add a level of difficulty to an already hard job.

It is simply not true that med-surg is the only or even the best place to learn organization, prioritization, clinical skills or teamwork. Those things can be and are learned in every setting in which nurses practice.

2 years from now, your life circumstances may have changed. You may be married, having babies, caring for elderly parents or moving to a new city, all of which may impact your ability to take the "job of your dreams". If that's the case, you'll regret not taking it now while it was a sure thing.

Look for a hospital with a new grad program, or lengthy orientation that includes both classroom and clinical training 1:1 with a consistent preceptor. Pay attention to nurse patient ratios. Ask about the ratio of new nurses to experienced (more than 2 years on the unit.) Run from any unit that has less than 50% experienced nurses on any shift. Ask to shadow a nurse prior to accepting a position and ask that nurse about her orientation and job satisfaction. Most of them will answer honestly. Get your offer in writing and consider it for a few days before accepting.

Good luck!