[nurturer]

How does an RN enter a specialty? Do you have to go to school to specialize?

[Tweety]

Most specialities have on-the-job training, and some course work on the side. For example an OR Nurse might go through an orientation that would include some classwork, but most of it's learned on the job. Some specialties have experience requirements, such as to work in ICU they require a year of med-surg.

[nurturer]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Most specialities have on-the-job training, and some course work on the side. For example an OR Nurse might go through an orientation that would include some classwork, but most of it's learned on the job. Some specialties have experience requirements, such as to work in ICU they require a year of med-surg.

Tweety, Thank you....now..how does one every decide which specialty is most suitable to their skills and personality? It this something we need to learn after we are already working in a hospital? Or is there some way to investigate the different specialties more thoroughly before we start with school? Are there particular kinds of people who are more likely to be in particular specialties??

[Tweety]

People generally have an idea where they want to go, for example many people prior to nursing school just know they are going to do pediatrics, or delvering babies and others geriatrics. However, the rest of us usally find an area of interest while we are in school getting clinical experience.

I myself was pretty undecided and decided to go to a general medical floor when I graduated and moved around since then. Specialties don't have to be decided until you graduate and even then the good thing about nursing is you can always change your mind on down the line.