[new BSN nurse from SF]

Hello, I graduated from nursing school this past may ('07), and passed my boards. I moved to Rohnert Park (northern Ca) and applied to every hospital in the area. My dream job would be in Peds but none of the hospitals here are hiring new grads for peds right now my next choice is L&D. Now here's my dilemma: I've been offered 2 jobs. One in L&D (but I would start in the mom/baby unit) its at a kaiser and I would have to commute 45 minutes everyday. The other job is a MUCH smaller hospital and they offered me a position in Med-Surg (yuck!, was my first thought), they pay significantly LESS than Kaiser, but are right down the street from me.
Now, my question is: is it a BAD thing if I don't get experience in med-surg before I begin a career in L&D? And can anyone tell me if Kaiser is really that much better to work for?
I don't know if its going to be REALLY hard to get a job in Peds later down the road if I don't have any med-surg experience.....

well, if anyone can give me ANY advice I would LOVE it!!!
Thanks!

[pipingmad]

Tough call. I too graduated in May 2007. I have classmates that went straight into peds and mother baby units without med-surg experience.

Med-surg is always a good, solid foundation for any other area, but you can learn an area through your training period and gaining that specific experience.

Good luck!

[cougarnurse]

From what I remember (!), Maternity nursing is totally different from Med/Surg. And Peds? No, they are NOT miniature adults!

Med/Surg IS useful, and good to know, though. At least you would know 'normal' vs 'abnormal' in adults, and how things differ in L&D/Maternity...if that is any help!

'Cat'

[agave-rn]

Your choice depends on how much value you place on the different criteria. I know I personally would jump at a job that was just down the street from me, because I hate commuting, but then again I once quit a job that was right across the street because the working conditions were terrible. Starting in med/surg could be good but probably not necessary. I'm thinking it could help to talk to people who actually work at these hospitals to see how they like the facilities.
Kay

[Ricu]

Hi folks,

The great thing about nursing is that it really doesn't matter where you start because you can always move around. The usual advice given to new grads is to "get a solid foundation in med-surg," however if in your heart you know for certain that you want peds, then move in that direction first. You won't be wrong either way. If after awhile you find that peds isn't the fit you thought it would be and you want to go to say, telemetry, then take those steps. Experience gained in any area of nursing is cumulative therefore, valuable so if you change locations or specialties, don't ever feel as though the time was wasted.

Good luck

R

[taryn]

Hello,

You would be suprised how quickly you will be hired for just about any position once you have 1-2 years of ANY nursing experience.I did Med/surg for 8 months and then right to cardio/thoracic surgery. Boy, did I know all my drugs and I was very organized. But, in surgical icu you only have 1-2 pts and you rarely give po meds so- I basically forgot how to be a med/surg nurse after awhile. Follow your heart rather than a commute time. I have driven at least an hour each way for almost ten years because, I love what I do. There are plenty of hospitals near by but it does not suit my interest and eventually you will probably go for what you really want to do anyway.
Have a good one!!

Taryn

[singer7]

Hi,
You may find the med/surg experience invaluable. Also, if you start in a smaller hospital just down the street; there may be openings in the areas that you want to work, just down the road and now you have your foot in the door!

[cassioo]

I think some med/surg experience is always good especially for getting the skills to prioritize care.....I always wanted L&D, Nursery or Peds so when I graduated I went to part time peds part time med/surg....about 45 minutes away because that's where the job was..6 mos later straight peds (a small but busy unit where at night it's 1 RN and 1 LPN and 15 kids and at that time the LPN's couldn't do much of anything except PO meds) then went to the hospitals home health seeing all of the peds patients with the office 45 minutes from home but then I might drive 200 rural miles per day then to L&D 5 years later where I'm still at....you have to also remember with L&D those pregnant patients still come in with regular medical problems ie:hypertension, diabetics, heart problems then the pregnancy induced medical problems and the post partum and post-op (c-section) problems and LOTS of teaching.
I like my drive time most of the time I have some books on tape and it gives me some cool down time on the way home so if I've had a bad day at work most of it I can let go before I get home in 45 minutes but then it's also getting home at 8:15-8:30 at night only to get up again at 5 in the morning to shower and leave the house by 6.

[MICU-RN]

Your inqury reminds me of wanting to be an ER nurse out of RN school. I was told to do 6 months in ICU and then come to ER. I did and ER is my home and love now.

Why not work Mother/Baby and go to L/D. Med/Surg is always good, but why not just do Mother/Baby or PP. All the best.

[Sailorbob]

I went to Peds in a large hospital directly from school. Huge mistake. I ended up overwhelmed and unhappy. Two years later I returned to Peds more successfully.
One of the best things about med/surg is the opportunity to interact with many different types of people. You learn a lot about the actual role of the nurse, as opposed to what you may have been told in school, and getting the broadest possible clinical background will help you in many ways. In a smaller hospital your co-workers may have more time to help you, since so much of your early success is dependent on support from them.