Where do I start?

[Nina-RN-2B]

I will be graduating this December and I am swimming with all the opportunities that are in front of me. I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I really do not care for med-surg but I am torn between a couple of specialties. I have heard some people say that I should do med-surg to hone in on my skills before I get into a specialty. I was wondering what the other nurses on this board thought. Thanks.

[yeoj]

Hi, just don't worry about your preference on where to start. Take whatever they're offering you and consider it as a stepping stone and soon you'll realize that nursing is a broad kind of profession being open and prepared for new experience and be thankful for the offers and in behalf of all the nurses around the world, we'd like to welcome you to our noble profession.Enjoy..

[nursinghumor]

I'll be blunt on this issue, it's a matter of what kind of nurse do you want to be.

Medical Surgical nursing is going to be the hardest you've ever done. Simply because you are new to nursing and need to become experienced.

You need to learn to organize your time, prioritize your care and keep your patients alive. It's a tremendous responsibility, and you'll be a much better nurse for gaining that experience.

Nurses that have worked in the ER, ICU, or other specialized areas of nursing, often have a very difficult time going back to Medical Surgical. Once you have two years of Med/Surg, you can go virtually anywhere.

You'll have more options open to you than if you started in say a doctor's office or nursing home.

During a nursing shortage, you can probably find jobs in the ER, ICU or other areas usually not open to New Graduates. They are not giving you jobs there to do you a favor, they're doing it because they need bodies.

You have to make a few decisions on where you want to go with a nursing career. If you're looking to climb the career ladder in Nursing and stay at the bedside, Med/Surg will serve you well.

If you're looking for less stress, less pay, less contact other areas of nursing may suit you better.

Be sure to ask about preceptors and orientations. Three to six months for a new grad in acute care is the standard.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[Nina-RN-2B]

Thanks so much for your honesty Andrew. I know I should just concentrate on getting through my last semester but with all the different recruiters and job fairs they have us go to, I cant help but wonder what do I do when I graduate. I really do not like med-surg right now, probably because everything is new and overwhelming. But it makes complete sense to start there. I am pretty sure that is where I will go first, I think it would help me be a well rounded nurse and then go into a specialty. They even have NICU new grad programs, which sound amazing but I have always wondered about starting out a new grad in such a delicate specialty. Oh and thanks for advising me on preceptors and the length of having one. You have been very helpful.

[nursinghumor]

Happy to help

With "the light" at the end of the tunnel so close, it is easy to get distracted.

Luckily, you're graduating at a time when you'll be in demand for as long as you have a license and a warm body.

Do your homework, pay close attention to the floors you work on, pass your finals, then boards the first time.

Getting a job once you are licensed will be the easy part as long as you are flexible about the jobs you'll accept.

Best wishes,

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[littleriverbug]

I started in a nursing home before I went to uni to become an RN. After I graduated I did my rotation in my postgraduate year in OT, Recovery, orthopaedic and general surgey (3 months in each). OT wasn't for me as I need patient interaction to survive and I like human relations of all kinds. After my post-graduate I went into general surgical and still love it to this day. It has challenged me and I love feeling skilled. You will obtain alot of general nursing and clinical skills in this field as well as interpersonal skills. I have been in this field for nearly three years and hope to move into other areas now such as A & E (emergency), ICU and cardio on the casual pool or doing extra shifts. I wouldn't mind a succondment. Anyways I am back at uni studying a masters in ed and hope to move into uni education. I will however never leave nursing as I feel I have acquired good skills that I want to nurture lifelong.
I personally believe general med/surg is a good starting ground to build your confidence in nursing practice and as I have shown will give you courage to expand. Your journey I must admit will not be easy and you may feel thrown in the deep end at times. But hang in there, ask for help when you need it and never give in and all your rewards will follow.
best of luck
littleriverbug from Australia