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MedSurg - Ortho Floor....

Ok can we say TOTAL snooze fest???  Today was our first official day on the MedSurg floor, but unfortunately since the professor figured we might be overwhelmed with over 15 pages of clinical paperwork due in one night, we weren't really able to do much (meaning no passing of meds).  We were basically put into the PCT roles.  So, pretty much it felt like last semester's clinical all over again, a bunch of elderly people, except for these ones have total hip replacements instead of just being old.   And let me tell you I can say with almost 100% assurance that working on the Ortho wing of the MedSurg floor is NOT where I see my future nursing self.  I mean maybe it was just my perception, but I saw the nurses basically in the same role as they were in the nursing home.  Going from patint room to patient room passing meds.  BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I hate that we don't get an ER rotation, I REALLY think that I would like that much more, except that as a new nurse I just don't see how you could be that good at critical thinking to work there.  Of course I still have 2 more semesters, so maybe my critical thinking skills will improve. 

Another thing I've learned from this semester is that nursing school is HARD!!!!!!!  Especially at my age.  I am SO exhausted.  5:00 am comes so early & man am I tired.  Especially when we aren't told ahead of time that the 1000 pages of clinical paperwork DOESN'T have to be 100% finished BEFORE clinical.  That we'll actually have time in clinical to finish said paperwork.  Um, that would have been nice to know before I stayed up until 1:00 am last night finishing all those papers that DIDN'T have to be finished!! 

And lastly after today's clinicals it was so funny to hear so many of my nursing school buddies question if this was the right career path for them.  I mean I totally understand, but dang after all this money & time & sacrifice that me, my husband & my children have gone through, by golly I'm going to finish this degree, even if I never set foot in a hospital.  Of course that won't happen, I'm not crazy ;)



Comments

  1. The only saving grace for my Preceptorship on the Ortho floor is that it consisted on Trauma patients... not the hips and knees of the regular Ortho unit... lots of nasty dressings, ORIFs, casts, and traction.

    But still... awful! LOL

    Med/Surg and the Hospital clinical sites are where you really start to see your future as a nurse.

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    1. I can't wait to do the other rotations. After all of my protesting I'm starting to think L & D & Peds is going to be my pathway, but we'll see. Many more rotations to get through.

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  2. I've been a nurse forever, but I clearly remember hating my med-surg rotations. I was at the VA in Milwaukee, and our patients were all old diabetic men. (shudder) Nursing is so much more than hospital care--just get the basics under your belt and you will fly.

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  3. Clinical evaluation skills continue to increase every time you step on the floor.
    I would just caution you about saying this or that sucks or is boring when you post your name and picture. We (the manager)asked a student nurse to leave because of a negative FB posting about another floor. She was not expelled, but the school had to find her new placement.

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    Replies
    1. Hm, I have never posted where I go to school or what hospital I have my clinicals at on this blog, but just in case I still deleted my comment :) But when I say it was boring, well it was & I don't think that's a bad thing to say. Every floor/area is not going to be for me & I think I have the right to say at least that much. Thanks for the advice though.

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    2. It was posted

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  4. Hello,

    I am a male nursing student, one of 4 in a group of 90 female classmates. I have had doubts due to the fact that many of the readings and examples are regarding women (as the nurse). But so far I absolutely love it so far, but it is definitely a challenge when it comes to clinicals. I am not used to the very personal and up close interaction with individuals whom are nearly helpless. I made a friend in a nursing home that was a blind man and for some reason that really resonated with me. He commented on how I will be a great nurse in his opinion and we had a real relationship, something I never imagined before I started. I really care about him and found my self worried about him like I would one of my own family members. This was a turning point for me on my journey to become a nurse in a female dominated field.

    I also work 55 hrs a week!! This makes it very challenging to get all the reading and assignments done each week. But I want it! I start my rotation on the Med/surg/ortho floor at a local mega hospital this friday and stumbled upon this blog while looking into what it may be like. Hopefully it is somewhat interesting!! Sorry for the shambles and rambles but it seemed like a good place to vent, best of wishes to all that read this!!

    Bless you all (especially other male nurses!!! lol)

    Tom

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