[purplecotton]

Hello. I am training in med/surg at my hospital and it seems that what I enjoy most about working as a nurse is talking to my patients. I don't really like the paperwork (but I do it anyway bec it is important) and I prefer working in a more relaxed, "low-risk" setting. In your experiences, what would you suggest is the best area in nursing to get into? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[KatieBell]

Since you enjoy working with patients, more than paper work...you will fit in anywhere. No one I know likes the paperwork better than the patients.

But as far as lower acuity here are some ideas:

Home Health
Outpatient clinics
Psychiatric Nursing (Generally they are Medically Low Risk, but will of course have high risk for psychiatric complications...so may not be what you are looking for, but some people I know do nursing in an outpatient Behavioral Health setting and really like running the group sessions...)

Chronic Dialysis (does have some high risk moments!)

Rehab (a lot of rehab is intensive interaction to motivate patients, and work with families. Sometimes it can be high risk, but the idea of rehab is that the patient has recovered from the acute event...)

Long Term Care
Hope these are interesting to you.

[purplecotton]

Thanks! Hehe, actually my sister is also taking up nursing and she prefers the paperwork! She is a weirdo (joke!). Anyway... psych nursing is quite interesting but i have heard stories that the nurses go crazy themselves! There must be some truth to that or maybe i'm displaying my ignorance (probably so). How about developmental disabilities nursing? Is that specialty in demand? I have worked with some autistic children before and it was nice. How much " additional educational investment" is required since it is a specialty? Thanks again!

[suzanne4]

Your issue is with what is available to a foreign nurse, who needs a green card. Initially, you are restricted to either hospitals or LTC s because of green card sponsorship. So you won't have that large of a choice..........at least right now.

[purplecotton]

Hi, i know there are limited options for nurses just starting but i'd just like to have a "direction" or goal to move towards. I know it will take years but i guess it is not too soon to start asking and researching (as i learned my lesson in going ahead in doing "things" before getting all the information...hehe-the CA BON...).