I am a soon to be graduate of Nursing. I am trying to find out from other nurses which area of nursing gives you the most experience as a beginning nurse. Could someone please help me... one of my instructors said med-surg is the best.
I've always heard med-surg is great for building a solid foundation the will translate to any area of nursing.
However, if you know the area you want to go into you should go for it! Check the job postings at all the hospitals around. They may have residencies or positions available in specialty areas (ER, ICU, etc.) for new grads.
Good Luck!
I don't know where you are from or where you want to work or where you are willing to travel to or live, but I have the place for you! Call Kathy Collinsworth the Manger of 10 Bed Tower at Methodist Dallas Hospital in Dallas, TX. It is a med/surg floor and the over flow floor for most everything there is not room for any place else. You will have ages 13 to 110 and about every medical and general surgical and OB-GYN Surgical you could imagine. It is the over flow floor for post partum and I have never seen such a rainbow of variety and aquity on one floor. I am a traveling nurse...they are hiring new grads and they have everything you are looking for.
naskippy - I noticed you are from DM. Traveling there or your home is there? My home is an hour away from DM.
harris_rn - I am happy I started in med-surg. At first I hated it but was bound to get that 1 year of experience in and ended up staying 3 years. If you know in your heart you want to do L&D or peds, don't bother with M/S. I've noticed in the ICU that M/S nurses do a little better at first, but after a year or two, you can't tell the difference.
Hi Harris. In my opinion it doesn't matter where you work as a new grad. You have to ask yourself this question... "where do you see yourself working 5 years from now?" I'm an experienced nurse and one of the preceptors in our unit (Medical- Oncology). Our unit is a specialized unit but we do have new grads. I have precepted a lot of new grads and they had a smooth transition. It could only be complicated if you force yourself work in a place that you're not interested into. My advice is... do not work at med-surg only because some people think it's the best unit for new nurses. You can work anywhere you want. Nothing is easier than to do a job you really have passion of doing. Whatever it is you like, go for it. I'm sure you'll get a lot of support. There are so many hospitals there with different units accepting new grads. Goodluck!
I very much agree with RNview on this topic -- do not let yourself get pigeoned holed into MS just because you are a New RN graduate. If you have an area that you like in mind you have ever possibility of getting that job right out of Graduation.
When I graduated just about 90% of my class had jobs offers two to three months before we graduated (Not everyone chose MS). I love Psych so that is what I decided to do ... In my case I had to travel to get the job but I started where I wanted to start.
Best Wishes - keep us posted.
One doesn't have to work M/S to start, but it will give one a good basic strart to hone skills and allow you to decide where else you might want to go.
Most of the major hospitals around here have an intern/extern program where you can get your feet wet in a different area. While you don't get paid as much as an RN, if you know the area you like, you can get the OJT you need for a job. Good Luck!
I think if you have a passion for something in particular go for it... but i think all nurses should do a year at a med surg level!
