[Gr8ful C]

Originally Posted by cfrimer

I am a very excited soon-to-be-nursing-student and one of the aspects of the profession that appealed to me was its variety. There are so many paths a nurse can walk! I can't wait to get started in my program this fall...

So many have read my mind! LOL
I am pre nursing and I LOVE trying new things and meeting new people, so it's good to see I'm in the right place!

[jahra]

Gr8ful C,

You will have many years to work in nursing---
your interests will change and you will want to challenge yourself.

Once in a while a job will end ( ex.)-due to hospital closure or a private
firm taking over State jobs.

The more specialties you have, the more interesting you will be
as a job applicant.

Have fun on your nursing journey!

Jahra

Psychiatric crisis intervention, family practice, and pediatric nurse

[tkhayman]

Oh thank goodness, i thought i was alone. Yes when i feel i have learned all there is in a place, i too tend to seek other avenues in nursing. Sometimes it does not look good on a resume but i would be bored stiff. I am considering going back to school to broadened my skills and brain. Thanks for the thread guys.

[JOLLIEHOLLY]

That Is So Awesome That You Are Willing To Try New Areas Of Nursing, After All, There Is A Lot To Offer With This Career. I Believe Many Nurses Who Stay At The Same Profession For Decades And Decades Become Stagnant, And How Do You Grow If You Don't Challenge Yourself, Easier Said Than Done Though, So Hats Off To You. I Myself Just Found A Few Days Ago That I Passed My Nclex-rn, And Just Started Working On The General Pediatric Unit, Let's See Where This Life Will Take Me. God Bless!!

[snowfreeze]

I am glad to see I am not alone. Now after a year and a half in telemetry I interviewed for an ER position. The interview went well but the nurse manager was not sure how many full time nurses she was going to be able to hire. Guess I have to wait until the dust settles after the new budgets are approved. The facility is also building a new ER 40 beds with 4 trauma bays so the future looks good.
TheCommuter, thanks for the spell check, I shoulda looked that one up.

[Lisa_RN]

I am the same way. I haven't been nursing that long but I had been in Cardiac/tele, Med Surg, Mommy/Baby, and Home Health. I do believe in being flexable. I would really LOVE to be in the OR or ER. Maybe one day I will get there.

[tariqmomma]

How did you nurses first get out of you comfort zone? I've been a nurse for over 2yrs and always worked on cardiac-step down or cardiac short stay. I'm excited to try something new, but nervous to be a newbie again. Any suggestions?

[MustangSallie1997]

Momma,
This thread was started in 3/06, I'm not sure if these ladies are still following it but I am sure many others are now that it is active again.
I have been working in the same area(s) for all of my 10 + years. I am a Labor and Delivery nurse, thats all there is to it. I found my passion for it in nursing school when we did the OB rotation, I set my sites on it, did what I could to gain experience in it before graduation, and then hounded the heck out of the L/D manager at graduation time until she gave me a chance. Sometimes it is hard to get a job in a "specialty" are with no experience, but how do you get the experience ?? !!
I love Labor and Delivery, I could never see myself doing anyother type of nursing in a hospital than that. BUT that is the beauty of nursing !!! If you want a change you can do it, just set you goals, do what you can to get educated on the area and GO FOR IT !!!
After all of these years, I have had an interest in Case Management or Utilization Review. Something more office like and out of the hospital. I never went after it though. I knew my job, I was good at it, I liked my co-workers, and IT WAS COMFORTABLE. I had been with the same company for my entire nursing career, it was easy to stay in the same spot. After a very unfortunate turn of events for me back in April, I found myself unemployed. I know this sounds horrible, and in a way it has been, but it also has been a blessing. What I am getting at is I was very quickly thereafter offered a L/D position at another hospital, and at first I thought that was what I wanted. But after looking more I really saw what was out there, ALL THE POSSABILITIES !! I started to explore the case management options and the occupational health options and the legal nurse options. I now have a Case Manager position and in a few months I will be able to work from my home office. For me, this means being able to get my kids on and off of the school bus, just being there for the 3 of them, this is very important to me, and also have a full time job makeing more than I ever have before !!!
Sorry this has gotten so long. I have just been at my own career crossroad, and I want you to know that if you are not totally happy where you are, and want something different, do your research, and GO FOR IT !! Dont look back years down the road, or even at the end of your career and wonder. I just hope it doesnt take something as drastic for you as it did for me to give you the strength to go after what you want !! YOU ARE WORTH BEING HAPPY !!!!!

LIFE IS A (monkey dance) !!! BE HAPPY !!!

[NRSINGED KAREN]

Yes, life is too short to stay in one area too long!
Karen

[TrendyNursingStudent]

Originally Posted by snowfreeze

Each speciality is a new experience for me. I left ICU 5 years ago, attempted to re-enter it.... found its not for me anymore, that is why I am in a telemetry unit! wow and nursing allows you to move around, where else can one degree get you so much variety?

Im in school for my RN but its great to know that if i get bord in one area i can try another and not have to switch careers!!